The Albany Gazette - Hazlewood takes six as Australia win first Test

Fast bowler Hazlewood twice broke promising stands and finished with six for 49.

The hosts, set 421 runs to win, were bowled out for 206, in the first Test series between the teams in South Africa since the 2018 sandpaper scandal.

Opening batsman Aiden Markram defied the bowlers for a minute short of six hours, scoring 75 before he was ninth out, caught behind from an inside edge off Mitchell Starc.

The last four wickets fell for five runs in the space of 16 deliveries against the second new ball.

Markram and Wiaan Mulder (29) were largely untroubled as they batted through the first 110 minutes of the day.

But a double bowling change brought two wickets.

Mulder was caught down the legside by wicketkeeper Alex Carey off Hazlewood for 29 after a 139-minute innings during which he faced 110 balls.

Man of the match Matt Renshaw came on to bowl his off-spinners in the next over and with his first ball dismissed Kyle Verreynne for a single when the South African wicketkeeper played a forcing shot against a wide ball and edged a catch to Steve Smith at slip.

It was the continuation of a dream match for Renshaw, who top-scored in both innings with 190 and 82, then took his first Test wicket when he dismissed South African captain Temba Bavuma on Monday.

It was Smith's fifth catch of a match in which he became the world record-holder for most catches by a fielder in Tests.

Smith was back in action after being off the field at the start of South Africa's innings on Monday following a blow on the head while batting.

Marco Jansen made 35 and added 45 with Markram before Hazlewood bowled him in the fourth over with the second new ball. Three balls later Simon Harmer gloved a sharply lifting ball to Carey.

Australia were in trouble at 124 for six on the first day but dominated the rest of the match after Renshaw steered them to a first innings total of 390.

(W.Williams--TAG)