Maharaj, Markram, steer South Africa to big win against Australia

Herald Sun

4 hours ago

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Australia has been served a brutal defeat to open its one-day series against South Africa, going down by 98 runs at Cazalys Stadium on Tuesday night.
The hosts suffered a calamitous batting collapse at the hands of Keshav Maharaj, with the veteran off-spinner ripping through Australia's top and middle order in Cairns.
After a promising start to their run chase, Australia lost six wickets for just 19 runs, with five of those coming at the hands of Maharaj.
The hosts seemed to have no answer for the 35-year-old tweaker, who had never taken a five wicket haul in ODIs before.
'To see it come together is super special. You train really hard as individuals and as a team to get that kind of performance,' he said.
'As a cricketer you want to take five-fors in multiple formats, and so to tick ODIs off the list after having done it in Test cricket before it's good to get one under the belt in white ball cricket.'
Keshav Maharaj celebrates one of his five wickets. Picture: Getty Images
It's a performance which will have George Bailey and the rest of the Australian selection panel scratching their heads.
Test cricket mainstays Alex Carey (golden duck) and Cam Green (3) both disappointed, while Marnus Labuschagne (1) and Josh Inglis (5) both failed to push their case for a recall.
Maharaj finished with figures of 5/33 off 10 overs, the fourth best by a South African in ODIs on Australian soil.
It's a performance that sees him join the ranks of Proteas legends like Morne Morkel and Lance Klusner.
'To be mentioned in the conversation with legends is always a special feeling,' he said.
'Whenever you get acknowledged in those conversations it's special.'
Captain Mitchell Marsh and Ben Dwarshius mounted a fightback, with the former making a gallant half-century as the rest of his batting lineup tumbled around him.
Marsh said the Aussies simply had to 'take their hat off' to a performance like the one Maharaj produced.
'The newer ball spun more than what we probably thought it would. But he's a world-class bowler and on days like today you just probably just take your hat off to him.'
Dwarshius played well for his 33, before getting himself out in the meekest manner possible, bunting a simple catch to Dewald Brevis at short mid-wicket.
Marsh's defiance in the face of ever-growing odds was heroic, but he was ultimately caught fishing 12 short of a century.
'I think over the past month and a half, Ben's development in this format has been really impressive,' Marsh said.
'He's a really good fielder, he's obviously got a lot of value with the ball and can bat.'
Having been set a target of 297 for victory, the Aussies fell well short, ultimately dismissed for 198 with just under 10 overs remaining.
Lungi Ngidi was next best in the SA bowling attack, taking 2/28, while Nandre Burger claimed a pair of scalps as well.
Mitchell Marsh provided the main resistance with the bat. Picture: AFP
HEAD STARS IN AUSSIE FIGHTBACK
Travis Head will be claiming genuine all-rounder honours after his efforts with ball in hand, claiming four wickets including the prized scalp of Brevis
The Aussies looked sure to be staring down the barrel of a total of significantly more than 300, but the spin partnership of Adam Zampa and Head helped them claw their way back into the contest.
Just as South Africa looked poised to capitalise on their strong start and put together a massive total, the Aussies found their way back into the contest.
They did so via the spin tandem of specialist Zampa and Head.
Travis Head took four wickets, and a superb run out. Picture: AFP
It was the former who knocked over the first domino, having Breetzke caught in the deep for 57.
Subsequently, Head struck twice in the span of three balls, first having Tristan Stubbs caught for a duck.
And while 22-year-old sensation Brevis made a statement with his first ball, he was brought unstuck by his second, departing for six as he holed out to long on.
The 31-year-old could do no wrong, picking up his fourth wicket when he had Keshav Maharaj caught in the deep.
And he was able to effect the unluckiest of run outs for Prenelan Subrayen, getting a fingertip to the ball as it flew back toward the stumps at the non-striker's end, with the off-spinner caught millimetres short of his ground.
'Trav has been bowling a lot in the nets preparing for a day like today,' Marsh said.
'It's so handy to have someone like him, especially on the bigger ground using the wind.
'We've done that a few times with him and it was effective today.'
DRS SHENANIGANS
The umpires likely didn't make any friends in the Australian camp, after the hosts endured a brutal day with the DRS.
Nathan Ellis copped a tough decision LBW from the umpires, but with the Aussies having burned their reviews he lost any chance at a reprieve.
That came after South African opener Ryan Rickelton was initially given out by field umpire Sam Nogajski, only to have DRS reveal the ball was going over the top of middle stump.
Then five balls later Marsh unsuccessfully reviewed a decision by Chris Gaffaney, who gave Rickelton not out LBW, with the ball found to be pitching outside leg stump.
Aiden Markram led the way for South Africa with the bat. Picture: AFP
The Aussies then burned both of their reviews before the first drinks break of their innings, with both Labuschagne and Carey sent packing after their LBW reviews showed up with three red lights.
The tables were turned later on, as an LBW appeal by South Africa was initially turned down, and while a spike on snicko wasn't enough to deter the TV umpire, the 'umpire's call' orange light stepped in to save Ellis.
INNINGS BREAK: Head reels in South Africa
A flurry of wickets in the final 10 overs has helped Australia keep South Africa to a manageable target in the first one-day international in Cairns.
Travis Head will be claiming genuine all-rounder honours after his efforts with ball in hand, claiming four wickets including the prized scalp of Dewald Brevis.
The Aussies looked sure to be staring down the barrel of a total of significantly more than 300, but the spin partnership of Adam Zampa and Head helped them claw their way back into the contest.
The tourists got the start they would've been hoping for via the opening pair of Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton, as they put on 92 for the first wicket.
Aiden Markram was in superb touch in his return to the top of the order. Picture: AFP
Markram looked a near certainty to reach three figures, cruising to 82 at just better than a run a ball and looking totally untroubled at the crease.
But a brain fade near the halfway point of the innings brought him unstuck, as he guided a Ben Dwarshius delivery into the waiting gloves of Josh Inglis.
His departure brought Matthew Breetzke to the crease to pair with captain Temba Bavuma.
Their partnership wasn't all that flashy, but it was effective, as they took the Proteas all the way to 3/223 at the 40-over mark.
Just as South Africa looked poised to capitalise on their strong start and put together a massive total, the Aussies found their way back into the contest.
Travis Head took four wickets, and a superb run out. Picture: AFP
They did so via the spin tandem of specialist Zampa and Head.
It was the former who knocked over the first domino, having Breetzke caught in the deep for 57.
Subsequently, Head struck twice in the span of three balls, first having Tristan Stubbs caught for a duck.
And while 22-year-old sensation Brevis made a statement with his first ball, he was brought unstuck by his second, departing for six as he holed out to long on.
South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma reacts as he walks off the ground after being bowled out. Picture: AFP
The 31-year-old could do no wrong, picking up his fourth wicket when he had Keshav Maharaj caught in the deep.
And he was able to effect the unluckiest of run outs for Prenelan Subrayen, getting a fingertip to the ball as it flew back toward the stumps at the non-strikers end, with the off-spinner caught millimetres short of his ground.
A last-ball six from Wiaan Mulder (31 off 26) was enough to see the Proteas just short of the 300 mark, as they finished their allotment on 8/296.
Kagiso Rabada has been ruled out of the ODI series. Picture: Getty Images
Meanwhile, South Africa pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada was ruled out of the three-match one-day international series against Australia because of inflammation in his ankle.
Rabada played all three Twenty20s in the preceding series between the teams but underwent a scan on Monday after feeling discomfort.
South Africa announced Rabada's withdrawal just one hour before the ODI series-opener in Cairns.
He will remain on the Australia tour, where he will undergo rehabilitation. Left-arm 19-year-old quick Kwena Maphaka, who claimed a leading nine wickets in the T20 series, has been added to the squad but was overlooked for the series-opener.
Veteran quick Lungi Ngidi leads a South African attack featuring off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen, who makes his ODI debut.
South Africa were sent in to bat first.
Originally published as Australia vs. South Africa, first ODI: Maharaj, Markram, steer South Africa to big win