Keshav Maharaj's 5-Wicket Haul Powers South Africa to 98-Run Victory Over Australia

South Africa Crush Australia in 1st ODI

The 1st ODI match between Australia and South Africa, where Keshav Maharaj's 5-wicket haul led South Africa to a 98-run victory.

Keshav Maharaj delivered a stunning performance, claiming a career-best 5-33 as South Africa thrashed Australia by 98 runs in the first ODI in Cairns. Maharaj's exceptional spin bowling dismantled Australia's batting lineup, restricting them to 198 runs in pursuit of a 297-run target.

Maharaj's Masterclass

Career-best figures: Maharaj's 5-33 were the highlight of the match, showcasing his skill and precision as a left-arm spinner.

Wickets: He dismissed key Australian batsmen, including Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, and Aaron Hardie, to seal South Africa's victory.

Australia's resistance was led by captain Mitchell Marsh, who scored a commendable 88 runs. However, his team's inability to build substantial partnerships ultimately led to their downfall. South Africa's bowlers, particularly Maharaj, played a crucial role in restricting Australia's scoring opportunities.

🚨 MATCH RESULT 🚨

A superb all-round display from the Proteas! 💪🇿🇦

They sealed victory by 98 runs in the opening ODI to take a 1-0 lead in the series. 🔥👏#WozaNawe pic.twitter.com/nWHIGS775p

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) August 19, 2025

South Africa put up a strong total of 296-8, thanks to impressive half-centuries from Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, and captain Temba Bavuma. Markram's batting was particularly noteworthy, as he skillfully navigated the Australian attack. Bavuma also played a crucial role, anchoring the innings and providing stability.

Australia's Bowling Efforts:

• Travis Head: Stood out with an impressive 4-57, showcasing his all-round skills.

• Other bowlers: Struggled to contain the South African batsmen, who capitalized on scoring opportunities.

When South Africa bowled, Maharaja was almost unplayable, delivering a spell that left the Australian batsmen struggling. The hosts' bowlers, led by Maharaja's exceptional performance, restricted Australia's scoring opportunities, setting the stage for a competitive match.

“I made my debut in 2016 in Australia. So it's a wonderful opportunity to get my first five-for here,” Maharaj said after collecting the player of the match award.

“I just tried to utilise the condition. The wicket was a little bit sticky with the new ball. I just tried to utilise that and got the reward.”

South Africa's batting lineup delivered a solid performance, with Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton setting the tone for the innings. The opening pair added 92 runs, with Markram scoring 82 and Rickelton contributing 33. Although Rickelton had a close call with an lbw decision that was overturned, he ultimately fell to Travis Head's bowling.

Middle Order Partnership

Temba Bavuma and Matthew Breetzke: Built on the foundation laid by Markram and Rickelton, adding a crucial 92-run partnership. Bavuma scored 65, while Breetzke made 57, helping South Africa post a competitive total of 296-8.

Australia's chase got off to a blistering start, with Travis Head hitting Nandre Burger for four fours in a single over, taking the hosts to 50 runs in just five overs. However, South Africa's spinners soon gained control, with Prenelan Subrayen dismissing Head and Maharaj taking over to turn the game in South Africa's favor.

Maharaj's Wicket-Taking Spree

5 wickets in 26 deliveries: Maharaj's spell was instrumental in Australia's collapse, as he claimed the wickets of Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, and Josh Inglis.

Australia slump to 89-6: Maharaj's devastating spell left Australia reeling, with the team struggling to recover from the loss of key wickets.

Australia's Struggle

As wickets continued to tumble at one end, Australian captain Mitchell Marsh had to rein in his natural aggression. Despite this, Marsh showed some resilience, hitting 10 fours in his innings. However, his efforts were not enough to propel Australia to a competitive total.

Ben Dwarshuis's Contribution

Ben Dwarshuis chipped in with 33 runs down the order, but unfortunately, his contribution had little impact on the overall outcome of the match. Australia's batting lineup struggled to build substantial partnerships, ultimately leading to their downfall.

Next Match

The two teams will now head to Mackay for the second ODI of the three-match series on Friday, August 22. In the preceding T20 series, Australia emerged victorious with a 2-1 margin. Will they continue their winning streak in the ODI series?