Australia needed a mere 22 balls and just 20 minutes on the field to clinch the first Sunfoil Test match against the Standard Bank Proteas at the iconic Sahara Stadium Kingsmead, this past Monday morning. The Aussies triumphed decisively with a hefty margin of 118 runs.
Quinton de Kock impressed with a solid 83 runs off 149 balls, including 11 crisp fours, while Morne Morkel chipped in adding 5 more runs before Josh Hazlewood spectacularly dismissed De Kock lbw. Hazlewood backed up the stellar effort of Mitchell Starc, who not only took 4/75 but amassed a match return of 9/109, with his own figures standing at 3/61.
Starc earned the well-deserved title of Sunfoil Man of the Match, thanks largely to his devastating performance against the South African lower order, disrupting their batting in both innings. Despite the Proteas’ batting struggles in the first innings, the key difference lay in the lower-order contributions; Australia confidently added 100 runs for their last three wickets, setting a solid foundation for victory.
On a bright note for South Africa, Aiden Markram’s superb second innings century placed him among elite company, becoming only the fourth South African to score a century on Test debut versus Australia, joining the ranks of Eddie Barlow, Jacques Rudolph and the current skipper, Faf du Plessis.
The thrilling match also benefited the Sunfoil Education Trust (SET) with an impressive R254 000 raised from boundaries, sixes, and wickets claimed during play.
Cricket fans can look forward to the next showdown as the second Test kicks off this Friday at the historic St. George’s Park in Port Elizabeth.
