'Scholar of the game' Keshav Maharaj gives Aussies a spin lesson in first ODI

The Proteas registered an emphatic victory over hosts Australia in the first ODI in Cairns on Tuesday after Keshav Maharaj claimed his maiden five-wicket ODI haul.

The 98-run triumph, with Australia bundled out for 198 in response to the Proteas’ 296/8, was the visitors’ fourth consecutive ODI victory over the Baggy Greens. Such an outcome looked utterly out of the question when Australia’s openers Mitch Marsh and Travis Head had fast-forwarded to 60/0 after just seven overs. 

But Australia were utterly undone by their opponents’ decision to field three spin bowlers, all of whom played a significant role – none more so than Maharaj.

The veteran left-arm orthodox tweaker enjoyed a magical night out on the eastern coast of Queensland, claiming a career-best 5/29, but it was ODI debutant Prenelan Subrayen that got the ball rolling when Travis Head gave the off-spinner the charge. 

Aged 31, Subrayen (1/46) knows his craft inside out despite his limited international experience and duly held the delivery back to provide Ryan Rickleton with a comfortable stumping. From there Maharaj spun the ball prodigiously as Australia’s middle-order looked inept, even intimidated, by the turning ball as they lost 6/29 in 33 deliveries.

It was not just the spin that outfoxed the Aussies, but also Maharaj’s deceptive usage of the crease, which he credits to his undying passion for the game. 

“Even though I'm 35-years old, I believe in my journey. I'm always learning. I think the day I stop learning is the day that I have to walk away from the game,” Maharaj said.

“I'd like to think I'm a scholar of the game. I watch a lot of cricket. I'm always bouncing ideas – even from the younger generation – because it's nice to see how the difference in thinking works. 

“Once I identified there was a little bit of spin, I tried to use my pace and a little bit of angle on the crease. Fortunately, enough, I put the ball in the right areas.

"I'm still learning. I'd like to think I'm getting better as age goes on.”

Maharaj was visibly animated whilst celebrating his first four wickets, but simply looked heavenwards after clean bowling Aaron Hardie to complete his first-ever white-ball “Michelle”.

“I'm not someone who sort of bowls for five-fors. I'm a process-driven person, so I judge myself on my consistency and my length. I think it was more a sigh of relief to finally tick the box,” he explained.

“You dream of playing international cricket, you dream of putting in match-winning performances. And the dreams keep building. 

“So it's always nice. We train as individuals and as a team and to see it come together, it's super special. I was very fortunate to get the rewards. I mean to put the balls in the right area. It's not often that happens, but very grateful and I'll take that performance. 

“It's (Australia) a place where I came to (Test) debut, so it's a wonderful, sort of fitting nostalgic feeling coming back here and getting my first five-for. To be able to tick the box of getting a five-for will always be special. But probably more a sigh of relief than anything else.” 

The Proteas’ batters had set up the contest with a good shift earlier in the afternoon. Aiden Markram returned to white-ball form with a polished 82 (81 balls, 9x4), while captain Temba Bavuma (65) and Matthew Breetzke (57) also struck half-centuries in their first innings of the tour. 

The tourists now travel south down the coast for the second ODI in Mackay on Friday before concluding the series on Sunday at the same venue.

SCORES

First ODI, Cairns

South Africa: 296/8

Markram 82, Bavuma 65, Breetzke 57, Head 4/57)

Australia: 198 all out

Marsh 88, Dwarhuis 33, Maharaj 5/33, Ngidi 2/26

South Africa won by 98 runs, lead series 1-0