Final-day collapse

Australia began the last day needing six wickets, while South Africa resumed on 102-4 with a target of 421. Aiden Markram and Wiaan Mulder added 69 runs off 205 balls for the fifth wicket before Josh Hazlewood broke through, with Mulder caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Alex Carey for 29. Kyle Verreynne followed four balls later, caught at slip by Steve Smith off part-time spinner Matt Renshaw for 1. South Africa were 166-6 at lunch, with Markram unbeaten on 69 and Marco Jansen on 7. Hazlewood then bowled Jansen for 35, and three balls later Simon Harmer was out after brushing the ball through to Carey with his glove. Markram fell for 75 off 237 balls, edging a delivery from Mitchell Starc behind off his pads, and was given out only after a television review. Anrich Nortje was the last wicket, popping the ball up to short midwicket for Nathan Lyon to take.

Hazlewood's six wickets

Hazlewood finished with 6-49, his best Test figures according to the New York Times, and the 35-year-old was the bowler who completed the win. He had already taken two wickets on Monday, 12 October, and on Tuesday, 13 October, he struck twice in one over with the new ball. Renshaw, named player of the match for his 272 runs with the bat, took his second wicket of the innings when Verreynne was caught at slip. The win was the first meeting between the teams since South Africa beat Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord's. Australia won by 214 runs, and the three-match series now stands at 1-0 in their favour.

Smith's return and the concussion scare

Steve Smith, the former Australia captain, did not field in the late session on 12 October after a blow to the head while batting. He returned to the field on 13 October after assessments under the concussion protocols. The New York Times reported that the only pain Smith suffered on his return to South Africa was a blow on the helmet from Nortje on day four, which led to a concussion scare. Cricket Australia confirmed the outcome in a statement.

Steve Smith has undergone a series of clinical assessments over the past 24 hours in accordance with Cricket Australia's concussion protocols and has been cleared to take the field this morning.

Context and what comes next

The New York Times noted that Australia won the first Test in Durban in 2018 by 118 runs, and South Africa then recovered to win that series 3-1. The paper argued that South Africa had been outclassed on home ground, with Markram's final-day resistance the only real fight in the match. The match was played in front of empty Kingsmead stands. The series continues in Gqeberha, also known as Port Elizabeth, from 18 October, before concluding at Newlands in Cape Town later in the month. South Africa must improve considerably to recover from the 1-0 deficit, according to the New York Times.