Keshav Maharaj had a point to prove to everyone and he was on song today against Australia. After being ignored for the T20Is against Australia, Keshav Maharaj came out like a man possessed as his maiden 5-wicket haul stunned Australia. His 5/33 skittled Australia out for 198 as South Africa won the contest by 98 runs to go 1-0 up in the series.
Put into bat first, South Africa rode on an all-round batting performance led by Aiden Markram to post 296/8 in 50 overs with Travis Head picking up 4 wickets. While defending the total, Keshav Maharaj spun a web over Australia as his maiden 5-wicket haul alongside Ngidi and Burger’s 2-wicket haul helped South Africa bowl Australia out for 198 despite a valiant 88 from captain Mitchell Marsh as Marsh was the only one who showed resistance out there. This means South Africa lead the series 1-0 going into Mackay the venue for the remaining two ODIs.
All-Round Batting Display Helps South Africa post 296/8.
Put into bat first, Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton came out to open the batting for South Africa while Josh Hazlewood had ball in hand for Australia. Hazlewood began with a maiden while Ben Dwarshuis was given the new ball from the other end. Rickelton got the first boundary of the game away hitting through covers. Markram managed to get a boundary away off Hazlewood who largely kept things tight.
Markram was getting into the groove as he hit Dwarshuis for another boundary. Hazlewood kept things tight while Markram targeted Dwarshuis and hit him for a boundary. The two batters survived a run out scare as Carey missed the stumps at the striker’s end. South Africa kept the scoreboard ticking as Nathan Ellis was introduced into the attack. Markram hit him for a boundary while Rickelton joined the party as some bad balls were being dished up by Australia.
Aaron Hardie was greeted into the attack with a boundary from Aiden Markram while Rickelton was not left far behind as he hit a boundary off Hardie in the same over. Nathan Ellis came back well and bowled a decent over as South Africa at the end of the mandatory powerplay were 56/0 in 10 overs. Travis Head came into the attack next as Markram hit him for a lovely square cut. Adam Zampa came into the attack and bowled a decent over.
Ryan Rickelton survived a scare as he was adjudged LBW off Travis Head. But the batter reviewed and we saw the height saving the left-hander. Rickelton once again was in the limelight as Zampa urged his skipper to go upstairs as Australia burnt a DRS against the southpaw. Josh Inglis dropped a tough caught behind off Head as Rickelton got a reprieve. Soon, Aiden Markram brought up his fifty off 54 balls. Markram hit Head down the ground for a boundary.
But Head eventually had his man and got the breakthrough for Australia getting rid of Ryan Rickelton for 33 off 43 balls with 3 fours to his name. Travis bowled a flighted delivery on a length outside off-stump from around the wicket with a little amount of turn away from Rickelton who stepped outside the crease to go over cover and the bat twisted in the hands and he lobbed in the air wide of mid-off. Labuschagne charged to his right and pounced on the ball to complete a fantastic diving catch as the 92-run opening stand broke.
Captain Temba Bavuma came out to bat at 3. Ellis bowled a decent over as South Africa looked to rebuild. Markram hit Head for a boundary as the 100 came up for South Africa in 18.3 overs. Markram looked in great flow as he hit Head for another boundary in the same over. Bavuma got into the act as he hit Ellis for his first boundary. After 20 overs, South Africa were 114/1. Adam Zampa as usual kept things under check.
Ben Dwarshuis came back as South Africa milked the bowling through singles. The boundaries had dried up and it resulted in the wicket of Markram against the run of play as Dwarshuis dismissed him for 82 off 81 balls with 9 fours to his name. Dwarshuis bowled short of a length delivery outside off-stump line rolled his fingers on it as well, Markram looked to cut it away from his body and got a thin outside edge. Josh Inglis dived forward and took a good catch. Matthew Breetzke came out to bat next and got off the mark straightaway.
Josh Hazlewood returned and delivered a decent over as South Africa reached 133/2 in 25 overs at the halfway stage of the innings. Ben Dwarshuis also kept things tight as South Africa looked to keep wickets in hand. Josh Hazlewood was giving nothing away and finally Breetzke broke the shackles as he launched Dwarshuis for the maximum over midwicket. Breetzke hit a boundary off Head as well as the duo were building a nice partnership. Bavuma survived a stumping chance off Head as South Africa were 160/2 in 30 overs.
Marnus Labuschagne was introduced into the attack and bowled a decent first over. Bavuma hit Zampa for a boundary. Breetzke hit Labuschagne for consecutive boundaries. Breetzke hit another boundary off Ellis as the 50-run stand came up between the two batters. Bavuma used his feet and hit Hardie for a boundary. Ellis bowled a decent over. Breetzke smashed Hazlewood down the ground for a boundary as the 200 came up for South Africa in 36.2 overs.
Matthew Breetzke reached his fifty soon after off 50 balls. Bavuma also hit a boundary off Hazlewood. Breetzke hit Zampa for a boundary but the wily leg spinner hit back getting rid of Breetzke and breaking the budding partnerhip as the batter fell for 57 off 56 balls with 7 fours and a six to his name. Zampa tossed it up full and at the stumps gripped and turned away, Breetzke went for the slog sweep and mistimed it straight up in the air. Hardie at deep midwicket ran it to settle underneath it and took the catch. Tristan Stubbs came out to bat next.
At the end of 40 overs with 10 overs to go in the innings, South Africa were 223/3. Travis Head struck got rid of Tristan Stubbs for a silver duck. Full length delivery outside off-stump from the bowler, Stubbs got on the front foot to attack with a lofted cover drive over extra cover as long-off was placed wide on the fence as Green moved just a couple of yards to his left to take a good catch. Dewald Brevis on debut walked out to bat next.
Brevis got off the mark with a maximum straight into the sightscreen but Head hit back and got his second wicket of the over. Head bowled it full and flighted outside off-stump, Brevis cleared the front leg and launched a big heave down the ground. Alex Carey at wide long-on called for it and moved half a dozen yards to his left and got into a perfect position to take the catch. Wiaan Mulder walked out to bat next and got off the mark with a brace.
Temba Bavuma soon brought up his 8th ODI fifty off 64 balls as runs were coming in singles once again. Bavuma broke the shackles a little bit as he hit Ellis for a boundary. Mulder joined in the party as he hit Ellis for a boundary through deep midwicket. Mulder managed to hit Zampa away for a boundary even though Bavuma was struggling due to his hamstring. South Africa were 264/5 in 45 overs.
Ben Dwarshuis struck and got rid of the South African captain Temba Bavuma for 65 off 74 balls with 5 fours to his name. Dwarshuis bowled a seam up delivery on length pitching a shade outside off-stump. Bavuma cleared his front leg to drag the ball across the line into the leg side. He lost his shape and got an inside edge to drag the ball onto the middle stump. Keshav Maharaj came out to bat next. Maharaj managed to get a boundary away off Dwarshuis. Zampa bowled a tidy over to complete his spell.
Maharaj managed to get a boundary away by hammering Nathan Ellis down the ground. Travis Head managed to get his 4th wicket as he got rid of Maharaj for 13 off 12 balls with 2 fours to his name. Head bowled a full length off-break delivery pitching outside off-stump. Maharaj failed to get underneath it and didn’t have enough power to clear the man at long-off. He threw his hands with an intention to clear long-off but didn’t hit it far enough. He launched it in the air and found Green some 15 yards in from the long-off fence as he took a good catch over his head. Debutant Prenelan Subrayen came out to bat next.
The debutant was run out by Travis Head as Mulder had drilled the ball back to the bowler who flicked it back onto the stumps as Subrayen went for 1 off 2 balls. Nandre Burger came out to bat next. Mulder farmed the strike and hit a maximum off the final ball of the innings off Dwarshuis as South Africa finished with 296/8 in 50 overs. Mulder’s innings consisted off 2 fours and a maximum in his 31* off 26 balls. Burger was on 1* off 2 balls. Just 7 extras given by the fielding side.
Travis Head was the pick of the bowlers for Australia finishing with 4/57 in 9 overs. Ben Dwarshuis got 2/53 in 9 overs. Adam Zampa finished with 1/58 in 10 overs. Josh Hazlewood bowled only 8 overs for 36 runs while Nathan Ellis bowled 10 overs for 54 runs. Aaron Hardie’s 2 overs went for 29 and Marnus Labuschagne’s 2 overs went for 14 runs. It meant that Australia needed a mammoth 297 runs to win off 50 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the 3-match series.
Keshav Maharaj’s 5-wicket haul skittles Australia out for 198.
Chasing 298 for the win, Travis Head and captain Mitchell Marsh walked out to bat for Australia while Nandre Burger had ball in hand for South Africa. Head and Australia got off the mark with a boundary off Burger. Lungi Ngidi was given the ball from the other end and he gifted away 5 wides to the batting side. Marsh got his first boundary away off Nigidi.
Marsh was in the mood as he hit Burger for two boundaries in three balls. He hit another boundary off Ngidi and looked in full flow. Travis Head was not to be left behind as he hit 5 boundaries in the same over bowled by Nandre Burger. Debutant Prenelan Subrayen came into the attack as spin was introduced inside the powerplay. The debutant bowled a decent first over.
Marsh then played a lovely square cut off Ngidi. But it was the debutant Subrayen who broke the opening stand as he got rid of Travis Head for 27 off 24 balls with 6 fours to his name. Subrayen tossed it up around off from around the wicket slower through the air. Head stepped down the track to look and smash it down the ground. He got beaten on the inside edge as Rickelton did the rest behind the stumps. Marnus Labuschagne came into bat next.
Keshav Maharaj came into the attack and struck straightaway as he got rid of Marnus Labuschagne for 1 off 6 balls. Maharaj from around the wicket tossed it up around leg gripped and turned away. Labuschagne rocked back and looked to work it away on the leg side. He got beaten on the outside edge and wore it on the front pad. Marnus reviewed the decision in hope and saw Three Reds on Ball Tracking meant the review was burnt as well. Cameron Green came out to bat next and got off the mark.
Subrayen bowled a decent over as Australia at the completion of mandatory powerplay of 10 overs were 67/2. Maharaj struck again as he got rid of Cameron Green for 3 off 8 balls. Maharaj tossed it up from around the wicket around middle stump line, gripped and turned away. Green leant forward and looked to push it straight. He played down the wrong line and got beaten on the outside edge and the ball crashed onto the off-stump. Josh Inglis came out to bat next and got off the mark as well.
Subrayen kept it tight while Maharaj was on a roll as he picked up another wicket. This time it was Josh Inglis dismissed for 5 off 8 balls. Maharaj bowled a length ball at the stumps pitching and skidding through the surface. Inglis rocked back and looked to punch it through the off-side. He was through the shot a bit early and missed it completely as the ball rattled the stumps. Alex Carey came and fell first ball for a golden duck.
Maharaj from around the wicket bowled a loopy delivery full around leg, Carey got down on one knee and looked to play the paddle sweep. He missed it on the outside edge and wore it on the front boot. Carey challenged the call and saw Three Reds meant Australia lost all their reviews as Maharaj was on a hat-trick. Aaron Hardie negated the hat-trick ball. Some quiet overs followed before Marsh broke the shackles somewhat by hitting a boundary off Subrayen.
Keshav Maharaj did not have to wait for long as he got his maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs as he got rid of Aaron Hardie for 4 off 10 balls. Maharaj tossed it up from around the wicket on the middle stump line, pitched and turned away from the batter. Hardie proded forward and looked to defend it straight and played down the wrong line and got beaten on the outside edge. The ball crashed onto the off-stump as Maharaj completed his 5-wicket haul. Ben Dwarshuis came out to bat next.
Dwasrhuis managed to get a boundary off Marsh by hammering through the off-side. Maharaj showed he is human as he dropped Dwarshuis off Subrayen at short extra cover and it was a sitter. Australia’s 100 finally came up in 19.2 overs for the loss of 6 wickets. After 20 overs, Australia were 103/6. Mitchell Marsh was battling a lone hand as he completed his fifty in 51 balls with a boundary off Maharaj.
Aiden Markram was introduced into the attack as Marsh managed to hit him for a boundary. The South Africans kept it tight as Australia were forced to rebuild their innings. After 25 overs at the halfway stage of the chase, Australia were 126/6. Markram and Maharaj were bowling well in tandems as the boundaries had dried up. Maharaj finished his spell of 5/33 in 10 overs. Marsh finally broke the shackles as he hit Markram for a boundary.
Dwarshuis took the attack to the returning Nandre Burger hitting him for consecutive boundaries as the 150 came up for Australia in 28.2 overs. Markram was bowling a tidy spell as Australia were 155/6 in 30 overs requiring a further 142 runs off 120 balls with 4 wickets in hand. Dwarshuis survived a stumping chance as his foot was back in the crease off Markram.
Burger broke the budding partnership getting rid of Ben Dwarshuis for 33 off 52 balls. Burger bowled from over the wicket hard length delivery around off. The ball held in the surface and kept a bit low as well. Dwarshuis was through the pull shot early and failed to keep it down as he hit it straight to Brevis at short midwicket. Nathan Ellis came out to bat next.
Ellis survived a close LBW call against him as Umpire’s call saved him off Markram’s bowling. Some tight overs followed before Marsh broke the shackles by smashing Markram for a boundary. Nandre Burger then delivered the killer blow and sealed the match for South Africa dismissing Marsh for 88 off 96 balls. Burger banged it short into the wicket around off a well-directed short ball as Marsh stood tall and looked to take it on and got a thick outside edge as Rickelton took a simple catch. Adam Zampa walked out to bat next.
Ellis managed to get a boundary away off Subrayen. Zampa got a lucky boundary off Ngidi. Stubbs then dropped Zampa at short cover although it was a tough chance. Ellis launched Subrayen for a maximum as the debutant finished his spell with decent numbers. Ngidi got his first wicket of the evening as Ellis fell for 14 off 20 balls with one four and one six to his name.
Ngidi bowled a slower good length delivery on the leg stump line, an off-cutter. Ellis went deep in his crease and went through his shot across the line well before the ball arrived and is struck on the back pad. The umpire gave it OUT and with no reviews left Ellis had to go back to the hut. Josh Hazlewood came out to bat at 11 and got off the mark. Ngidi delivered the final wicket off the innings as well as he got his second of the over and night dismissing Zampa for 11 off 18 balls with a boundary to his name.
Ngidi bowled a length delivery pitching outside off-stump. Zampa was tempted to go for a big hit and stayed in the crease to clear his front leg and swung hard only to get an inside edge back onto the middle stump as the bails went flying. Hazlewood remained unbeaten on 1 off 1 ball as Australia were bowled out for 198 in 40.5 overs with 11 extras given by the fielding side.
Keshav Maharaj was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa with magical figures of 5/33 in 10 overs. Nandre Burger chipped in with 2/54 in 8 overs while Lungi Ngidi chipped in with 2/28 in 4.5 overs. Prenelan Subrayen on debut finished with 5/33 in 10 overs. Aiden Markram bowled 8 overs for 35 runs. So, South Africa won by 98 runs to go 1-0 up in the series and for his brilliant bowling display, Keshav Maharaj was awarded Player of the Match.
What Lies Ahead.
South Africa are 1-0 up now in the ODI series after a comprehensive win at Cairns. The bandwagon shifts to Mackay now for the last 2 ODIs. The second ODI will be played on Friday 22nd August 2025, at 10 AM IST.
Will Australia bounce back like wounded kangaroos do or will South Africa go on with this momentum and seal the series in Mackay on Friday itself. Stay tuned and find out how the series unfolds from here because we expect Australia to fight back from here.
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