Australia have further cemented their position at the summit of the ICC
The loss marks a setback for South Africa, who entered the series in second place but now find themselves in third with a points percentage (PCT) of 60.00. In their place, New Zealand have climbed to second with a PCT of 72.22, while Australia continue to lead the pack with an impressive 81.82 PCT after securing nine wins from their 11 matches in the current cycle.
Hazlewood and Renshaw orchestrate dominant win
The final day of the Durban Test saw Australia dismantle the South African batting lineup, with
Hazlewood proved the primary architect of the collapse, removing Wiaan Mulder for 29 before claiming the wickets of Jansen and Simon Harmer in the same over. Mitchell Starc eventually accounted for Markram, and Hazlewood returned to dismiss Anrich Nortje, wrapping up the match and handing Temba Bavuma his first defeat as Test captain.
Batting foundations and tournament implications
The victory was built upon the exceptional form of
While Australia look to extend their 1-0 lead in the three-match series, the broader WTC table remains highly competitive. Bangladesh currently sit in fourth place with a 55.56 PCT, followed by India in fifth at 51.52. England, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Pakistan round out the bottom half of the standings as the race for the final positions intensifies.
