Australia lose first ODI against South Africa after nightmare collapse in Cairns
What began as a promising chase under lights in Cairns quickly disintegrated into chaos before the 20th over.
Things were looking smooth as Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh strode out to begin the hunt for South Africa's total of 297. The pair piled on 60 runs without loss inside seven overs, smacking the tourists' pace attack around the park with relative ease.
South Africa made the first dent when Head fell to Prenelen Subrayen for 27, but it was Maharaj who inflicted the carnage that followed.
The South African tweaker struck with his very first delivery, a perfect piece of drift and turn that trapped Marnus Labuschagne lbw for 1. From there he toyed with Australia's middle order, removing Cameron Green (3), Josh Inglis (5) and Alex Carey (duck) in a devastating, career-best spell in ODIs.
Carey lasted just one ball, trapping himself LBW while attempting a sweep.
It was a particularly unfortunate performance for Labuschagne, who is fighting tooth and nail to prove selectors he is the right man to pick for the Ashes series this summer, which is just a few months away.
His lean spell with the bat in the Test arena led to his axing and he's running out of international opportunities before the series kicks off in Perth on November 21.
The collapse continued as Australia's middle order tumbled.
By the time Maharaj castled Aaron Hardie with another beauty that gripped, spun and clipped the off stump, his figures read a scarcely believable 5-9 from 4.2 overs.
Australia crashed to 89-6, losing five wickets for just 15 runs.
Mitchell Marsh remained at the crease and faced the monumental task of protecting the tail while chasing another 200 runs.
He did well alongside Ben Dwarshuis (33) but ultimately fell on 88, top-edging an easy catch through to wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton.
From there it was only a matter of time as the rest of Australia's tail collapsed for a total of 198, 98 short of the total.
Earlier, South Africa had built their platform with disciplined batting on a tricky surface.
Aiden Markram led the way with 82 from 81 balls, controlling the early exchanges with authority before nicking off at the wrong time. Captain Temba Bavuma added a composed 65, steadying the innings through the middle overs, while opener Matthew Breetzke compiled a brisk 57 to keep the scoreboard moving.
Dewald Brevis' ODI debut lasted just two balls, but Wiaan Mulder's late cameo, including a six to finish the innings, lifted the tourists to 296-8, the highest total recorded at Cazalys Stadium.
Australia's bowlers chipped in without ever fully stamping control.
Josh Hazlewood was typically miserly (0-36), while Adam Zampa (1-58) and Nathan Ellis (0-54) went wicketless.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
Nowhere to hide: Australia exposed by Smith retirement
It's no coincidence that Australia's hiding by South Africa in Cairns was their first ODI since the retirement of Steve Smith. In conditions that were momentarily tricky against the wily left-arm spin of Keshav Maharaj, Australia showed absolutely no ability to adapt to a newish ball spinning off a tacky surface, when they needed only to get through four or so overs for the drop and bite to diminish. That adaptability and thought were hallmarks of Smith's ODI career, finding ways to work with the ebb and flow of a 50-over game to make the runs required. Last time Australia played games up in Cairns, a 3-0 thumping of New Zealand in 2022, Smith was a star on a series of similarly testy surfaces, scoring his runs at a relatively sedate pace but playing the situation with mastery. But without him this time, after Smith elected to hang up his one-day kit and go play in the Hundred in England instead, the batting line-up looked dispiritingly gullible when pitted against Maharaj. He spun a web as thick as that conjured up by Shane Warne against South Africa in a famous World Cup semi-final at Edgbaston in 1999. Marnus Labuschagne, ostensibly there to take Smith's role, misread the length and was beaten by turn to be lbw, the 14th occasion on which a left-arm spinner had got him in an ODI. Cameron Green was similarly outfoxed to lose his off stump, and Josh Inglis – a noted player of spin – was nowhere to a quicker delivery that skidded through. Alex Carey's first-ball sweep was misjudged, and Aaron Hardie contrived for a near action replay of Green's dismissal. Maharaj's spell of destruction reduced the Australians to 6-89, having been 0-60 just nine overs before. That captain Mitchell Marsh and number eight Ben Dwarshuis were then able to play Maharaj with few dramas, in a game-prolonging stand of 71, only enhanced the sense of worry about what had just transpired.
The Australian
an hour ago
- The Australian
Wallabies v Springboks 2025: Australia v South Africa, second Test, ten changes, team news, Cape Town, comeback
South Africa have made 10 changes to their starting team for their second Rugby Championship match against Australia at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday. Head coach Rassie Erasmus announced the new-look team on Tuesday and said the Springboks were determined to 'get things right' after their shock 38-22 defeat against the same opponents in Johannesburg last weekend. Four of the changes were because of injuries to captain Siya Kolisi as well as wings Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe and flank Pieter-Steph du Toit. Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. Centre Jesse Kriel, one of five survivors from the Johannesburg defeat, will captain the team for the second time in his career. Prop Ox Nche, who also played last Saturday, will be vice-captain for the first time. 'We lost four players to injury, which obviously had an impact on a few of our selections but we also know where we went wrong against Australia last week,' said Erasmus. The Springboks opted for experience with Willie le Roux at full-back and Handre Pollard at fly-half, while Damian de Allende has recovered from injury and will reunite with Kriel in one of South Africa's most successful centre pairings. Le Roux, Pollard and De Allende have a total of 271 caps between them. There is also a return to a 6-2 forwards-backs split on the bench with Erasmus able to call on a powerful back-up tight five which includes lock Eben Etzebeth, South Africa's most-capped player. Erasmus said he was expecting another physical battle against the Wallabies, who recovered from being 22-0 down after 20 minutes to secure a six-tries-to-three victory last week. 'We are still hurting from that result and the coaches and players are extremely disappointed with the way we played last week,' said Erasmus. 'We know we didn't play according to our standards in the second half and we must rectify that.'
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Sydney FC forced to plan for potential exit of Brazilian star Douglas Costa
Sydney FC has started planning for life without Douglas Costa, with fears growing that the former Juventus and Bayern Munich star won't return for the upcoming A-League season. Costa remains in his home country of Brazil for personal reasons, and while Sydney officials are remaining patient with the 34-year-old winger, they need the issue resolved so they have time to find a replacement, if needed, before the transfer window closes next month. While the Sky Blues remain hopeful Costa returns, the club's other Brazilian import, midfielder Leo Sena, is set to be cut loose by the club. Sydney's head of player management Alex Baumjohannn on Monday told club supporters at a fan forum that Sena was no longer part of the Sky Blues' plans despite having a season to run on his contract. Sky Blues coach Ufuk Talay on Wednesday said Sena, 29, was 'mentally and physically not in the place we want him to be'. 'Personal issues that he's had off the field has definitely hindered his physical side of the game, so it's disappointing in that sense because we still believe he's a quality player that definitely adds value to our team, but we'll see how things pan out in the next couple of weeks with him,' Talay said. 'He's still part of the group, he's still here with the team, but moving forward we'll see how that pans out.' As for Costa, Talay said the club had no choice but to be prepared for the potential non-return of its marquee man. 'We want Douglas back. He's dying to get back,' the Sydney mentor said. 'There's no definite timeline, but for us, at the same time, we're thinking ahead. If things don't go to plan, we don't need to be sitting on our hands. 'We're hoping that we can get him here as soon as possible, but in the background, there is some work being done, so if it doesn't plan out the way we want it to be, we'll have to move forward in another direction. 'We're very wary as a team and as a club that the transfer window is closing pretty soon, and we need to make sure that we're not left in the lurch without getting a player across the line.' Costa and former Manchester United star Juan Mata were the A-League's two prized recruits ahead of the 2024-2025 season. However, there's now a chance that neither will be part of the competition going forward, with Spanish veteran Mata yet to decide if he will re-sign with Western Sydney Wanderers, where he received little game time last season under coach Alen Stajcic. Mata, 37, has also been linked with a move to Central Coast; however, the Mariners have been reluctant to sign new players due to financial constraints. While the Gosford-based club last week announced the signing of former Socceroos goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne, it's understood the Mariners had to go through with the acquisition of the ex-Sky Blues gloveman after intervention from Professional Footballers Australia because the veteran custodian signed a contract with Central Coast for the new season in March.
