Josh Hazlewood picked 6/49 in Durban [Source: AFP]Josh Hazlewood ended South Africa's resistance on Day 5 of the Durban Test, as he ripped through the Proteas batting and picked up a sensational six-fer. With this, he guided Australia to the lead in the three-match Test series, clinching the opener by 214 runs.Hazlewood's 6/49 at Kingsmead Stadium are the career-best figures for the bowler. Additionally, he also added his name to a special World Test Championship list, proving his worth as one of the most valuable modern-day bowlers. Josh Hazlewood scripts WTC historyDespite missing out on a lot of Test cricket, including the Ashes 2025/26 at home, Josh Hazlewood has remained one of the prime bowlers in the format in recent years. Since the introduction of the World Test Championship in 2019, he has been the joint-fifth most productive bowler, in terms of five-wicket hauls.In the WTC, he is only behind some of the finest Test bowlers of the generation, including Jasprit Bumrah and two of his fellow teammates. Interestingly, he is ahead of Mitchell Starc in the list, despite the left-arm pacer being one of the most menacing bowlers in recent years.ALSO READMost Successful Bowling Pairs In Test CricketMost 5-Wicket Hauls in World Test Championship1. Japsrit Bumrah (IND) - 132. Ravichandran Ashwin (IND) - 113. Pat Cummins (AUS) and Nathan Lyon (AUS) - 105. Josh Hazlewood (AUS), Taijul Islam (BAN) and Prabath Jayasuriya (SL) - 9Hazlewood show in DurbanHaving picked two wickets in the first innings, helping Australia take a 106-run lead, Hazlewood rocked up at the Kingsmead Stadium on a mission on Day 5. South Africa were 102/4 and far away from chasing 421 runs.As the Proteas were batting for the draw, Aiden Markram and Wiaan Mulder were in the midst of a big partnership when Hazlewood took the onus upon himself to dismiss Mulder at the brink of Lunch, with a catch to Alex Carey down the leg. He ended the 69(205) stand between the duo.Later, he once again broke a 100+ ball partnership between Markram and Marco Jansen, bowling Jansen through the gates, followed by a snorter to dismiss Simon Harmer, who gloved the unplayable bouncer to Carey. With this, he completed the five-fer and subsequently also dismissed Anrich Nortje to seal the first Test of the series.Earlier in the innings, Hazlewood had also trapped David Bedingham LBW on 46 to end a 66(118) partnership between the batter and Markram.ALSO READUpdated WTC Points Table After Australia Defeat South Africa In 1st Test 2026
