AFTER being left out of the Proteas squad for the T20I series, Keshav Maharaj arrived in Australia determined to show he remains a force to be reckoned with in white-ball cricket.
Despite being 35-years-old already, he stressed that he still wanted to be a “match-winner” for the Proteas across all three formats.
Well, the newly-crowned SA Cricketer of the Year certainly sent a timely reminder that he wants to be part of the conversations going forward with a career-best maiden five-haul in Cairns on Tuesday night.
In the unfamiliar spin-friendly conditions, Maharaj spun a web around the Australia middle-order to claim 5/33 as the hosts’ pursuit of the Proteas’ 296/8 collapsed in an almighty heap.
Australia had stormed to 60 without loss in just seven overs, but proceeded to lose 6/29 in the midst of Maharaj’s wizardry.
It was, however, debutant Prenelan Subrayen (1/46) that precipitated the collapse after flummoxing Travis Head (27 off 24 balls) through the air to allow Ryan Rickleton to whip off the bails.
From thereon it was lone vigil from Australian captain Mitchell Marsh (88 off 96 balls) that stood in the Proteas’ path of seizing a 1-0 lead in the series as wickets tumbled regularly at the other end.
Marnus Labuschagne was beaten with a delivery that gripped and straightened as Maharaj had the white ball on a string.
The veteran spinner produced a ripping turner to clean bowl Cameron Green with a delivery that whizzed past his outside edge before dismissing Josh Hardie and Alex Carey with successive balls.
Maharaj was not done yet though as he produced another beauty to clean bowl Alex Hardie to leave Australia reeling at 89/6.
There was no way for the hosts with Marsh eventually falling to Nandre Burger (2/54) which left the tail exposed for Lungi Ngidi (2/28) to complete the mopping up job.
Earlier, the Proteas batters had posted a competitive total through half-centuries from Aiden Markram, captain Temba Bavuma and Matthew Breetzeke.
Markram (82 off 81 balls) had looked destined for his first white-ball century since the 2023 World Cup but gave away the three-figure score with a deft touch behind to Inglis.
Bavuma (65) and Breetzeke (57), though, maintained the momentum without any great risk as their 92-run partnership for the third wicket enabled the Proteas to post a total that proved overly sufficient on the night.
First ODI, Cairns
South Africa: 296/8 (Markram 82, Bavuma 65, Breetzke 57, Head 4/57)
Australia: 198 all out (Marsh 88, Dwarhuis 33, Maharaj 5/33, Ngidi 2/26)
South Africa won by 98 runs, lead series 1-0
