Keshav Maharaj’s Five Wickets Power South Africa to 98-Run Win Over Australia

South Africa’s batting performance in the first ODI against Australia at Cazaly’s Stadium on August 19, 2025, was a perfect mix of resilience and flair, getting in a formidable 296/8 in 50 overs. After Australia won the toss and chose to field, the Proteas built their innings through half-centuries from Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma, and Matthew Breetzke, with late contributions ensuring a competitive total. Despite Travis Head’s four-wicket haul, South Africa’s disciplined approach set a daunting target.

South Africa Innings

The innings opened with Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton facing Australia’s pace duo of Josh Hazlewood and Ben Dwarshuis. The pair played cautiously in the mandatory powerplay from 0.1-10.0 overs, amassing 56 runs without loss. Markram was the aggressor, scoring 30 off 30 balls with four boundaries, his cover drives and square cuts piercing the field with precision. Rickelton, more restrained, contributed 19 off 27 balls, finding gaps for two fours. Their 50-run stand came in 51 balls, punishing loose deliveries from Hazlewood, who struggled with consistency, and Dwarshuis, who leaked early boundaries.

By the powerplay’s end, South Africa were firmly in control at 56/0, laying a solid foundation. Australia’s first breakthrough came in the 16.5th over when Travis Head, bowling off-spin, dismissed Rickelton for 33 off 43 balls. Rickelton, attempting to cut a turning delivery, edged to Marnus Labuschagne at slip, breaking a 92-run opening partnership. Markram continued his elegant strokeplay, reaching his fifty off 54 balls with six fours, his timing impeccable against both pace and spin.

South Africa crossed 100 in the 18.3rd over, maintaining a run rate near 5.5. Markram’s innings ended in the 23.3rd over when he was caught by Josh Inglis off Dwarshuis for 82 off 81 balls, including nine fours. His departure at 131/2 shifted momentum slightly, but captain Temba Bavuma and Matthew Breetzke steadied the innings with a vital 92-run third-wicket stand. Bavuma played a captain’s knock, focusing on rotation with singles and twos, while Breetzke attacked the spinners.

Breetzke’s fifty, off 50 balls with six fours and a six off Adam Zampa, featured confident drives and lofted cover shots. By the 34th over, South Africa reached 184/2, eyeing a total above 300. The second powerplay from 10.1-40.0 overs yielded 167 runs for three wickets. Head struck twice in the 40th over, dismissing Tristan Stubbs (0), caught by a diving Cameron Green, and Dewald Brevis (6), caught by Alex Carey after a lofted shot. These wickets left South Africa at 230/5, but Bavuma’s steady 50 off 64 balls, reached in the 36.2nd over, guided them past 200.

The final 10 overs (Powerplay 3) saw South Africa add 73 runs but lose five wickets. Bavuma’s 65 off 74 balls ended in the 45.4th over, bowled by Dwarshuis (2/53). Keshav Maharaj’s brisk 13 off 12 balls, with two fours, ended when he fell to Head, who finished with 4/57. Prenelan Subrayen was run out in the 48th over, leaving South Africa at 285/8. Wiaan Mulder’s unbeaten 31 off 26 balls, with two fours and a six, provided a late flourish, aided by seven extras. Head was Australia’s standout bowler, but Hazlewood (0/36) and Nathan Ellis (0/54) were costly. Zampa took 1/58, while Aaron Hardie and Labuschagne struggled. South Africa’s balanced batting, led by Markram, Bavuma, and Breetzke, ensured a challenging total.

Australia Innings

Australia’s pursuit of 297 began with intent but crumbled against South Africa’s disciplined bowling, led by Keshav Maharaj’s career-best 5/33. Bowled out for 198 in 40.5 overs, the hosts fell 98 runs short, with Mitchell Marsh’s 88 the only notable resistance. South Africa’s spinners and pacers combined to expose Australia’s weaknesses, securing a dominant victory.

The chase started strongly, with openers Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh scoring 67/2 in the first powerplay. Head’s aggressive 27 off 24 balls, with six fours, targeted loose deliveries from Nandre Burger and Lungi Ngidi, who conceded six extras. Marsh supported, and their 50-run stand came in 30 balls. Prenelan Subrayen broke through in the 7.1st over, stumping Head off a wide delivery for 27, ending the stand at 60. Maharaj then took control, trapping Marnus Labuschagne lbw for 1 in the 8.1st over, a decision upheld after review. Two overs later, he bowled Cameron Green for 3 with a turning delivery, reducing Australia to 67/3.

Maharaj’s onslaught continued, dismissing Josh Inglis (5) and Alex Carey (0) in the 12th over. Inglis was bowled attempting a lofted drive, while Carey was lbw after a failed review, leaving Australia at 75/5. Marsh reached his fifty off 51 balls with seven fours, fighting alone and Aaron Hardie’s 4 off 10 balls ended when Maharaj bowled him in the 16.2nd over, claiming his fifth wicket at 89/6. Marsh and Ben Dwarshuis added a 71-run seventh-wicket stand, with Dwarshuis scoring a patient 33 off 52 balls. Marsh’s controlled aggression took Australia to 150 in the 28.2nd over, but the required rate was climbing.

Burger ended the partnership in the 32.1st over, with Dwarshuis caught by Matthew Breetzke at 160/7. Marsh’s 88 off 96 balls, with 10 fours, ended in the 36.2nd over when he edged Burger to Ryan Rickelton. Nathan Ellis (14) and Adam Zampa (11) added 23 for the ninth wicket, but Ngidi closed out the innings. Ellis was lbw in the 40.2nd over, and Zampa was bowled in the 40.5th, finishing Australia at 198. Maharaj’s 5/33, with a maiden and two boundaries conceded, was exceptional. Burger took 2/54, Ngidi 2/28, and Subrayen 1/46, while Markram’s 0/35 was tidy. Marsh’s effort aside, Australia’s batting collapsed against spin, handing South Africa a comprehensive win.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

The TCNI Magic Moment of the Game came in the 48th over of South Africa’s innings, when Travis Head produced a stunning run-out that electrified the match. With South Africa at 285/8, Prenelan Subrayen, on 1, pushed a delivery from Ben Dwarshuis to the deep and hesitated while attempting a quick single. Head, patrolling the boundary, sprinted to the ball, picked it up cleanly, and fired a pinpoint throw to the bowler’s end.

The direct hit caught Subrayen short by inches, halting South Africa’s late charge and capping their total at 296/8. This moment showed Head’s presence of mind, energizing Australia’s fielding effort. Earlier, South Africa’s innings was built on Aiden Markram’s elegant 82, Temba Bavuma’s gritty 65, and Matthew Breetzke’s attacking 57, but Head’s run-out stood out as a pivotal intervention, preventing a potentially higher score and keeping Australia in the contest.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Keshav Maharaj was the TCNI Hero of the Day for his match-defining 5/33 in 10 overs, securing South Africa’s 98-run victory. The spinner’s career-best spell, with an economy of 3.30, included a maiden and just two boundaries conceded. Maharaj dismantled Australia’s batting, removing Marnus Labuschagne (lbw for 1), Cameron Green (bowled for 3), Josh Inglis (bowled for 5), Alex Carey (lbw for 0), and Aaron Hardie (bowled for 4).

His ability to extract turn and vary his pace outfoxed the batsmen, with four dismissals via lbw or bowled showcasing his precision. Maharaj’s spell broke Australia’s middle order at 75/5, effectively deciding the match. Supported by Nandre Burger (2/54) and Lungi Ngidi (2/28), Maharaj’s dominance ensured Australia were bowled out for 198 in 40.5 overs. His control and wicket-taking prowess made him the standout performer, earning him the Hero of the Day title.