Proteas' T20I victory in Cardiff rain marred by Keshav Maharaj injury

The Proteas may have smuggled a 14-run Duckworth-Lewis method victory in the rain-affected first T20I against England in Cardiff on Wednesday evening, but the growing injury list is fast becoming a concern after Keshav Maharaj joined the walking wounded.

Persistent showers led to a delayed start before the series opener was reduced to nine overs per team. After being sent in, Aiden Markram’s team were only out in the middle for 7.5 overs before the heavens opened up again.

It was enough time though for the two new SA20 multi-millionaires Markram (28 off 14 balls, 2x4, 2x6) and Dewald Brevis (23 off 10 balls, 3x6) to light up Sophia Gardens before Donovan Ferreira (25* off 11 balls, 3x6) produced an entertaining cameo to push the Proteas up to 97/5.

Once the rain stopped, England’s innings were reduced to the minimum five overs with the target revised to 69 off 30 balls. 

The returning Kagiso Rabada had Phil Salt caught on the boundary with the first ball of England’s reply before Marco Jansen, who was also playing his first game since the World Test Championship final in June, grabbed 2/18 to restrict Harry Brook’s team building up any momentum. 

Corbin Bosch picked up 2/20 as England’s chase petered out to 54/5.

But the victory was marred when Markram revealed in the post-match presentation that left-arm spinner Maharaj had suffered an injury in the warm-ups. 

“Kesh was going to play but he tweaked his groin,” Markram said. 

Maharaj has been struggling with his groin since last December when he also limped off shortly before the toss ahead of the first ODI against Pakistan in Paarl. He was subsequently ruled out of the remainder of the series due to an adductor strain.

The 35-year-old also missed the second Test against Zimbabwe in July after his left groin flared up again while batting on the third day of the first Test in Bulawayo.

The Proteas’ injury concerns are certainly mounting after seamer Lungi Ngidi was ruled out of the series with a right hamstring strain. 

Ngidi, who will return home on Thursday, will be severely disappointed after finally being able to string together a couple of series on the bounce injury-free, which coincided with a return to some impressive form.

Left-arm quick Nandre Burger has been added to the squad and is available from the second match at Old Trafford on Friday.

No replacement was called for David Miller though after the veteran left-hander withdrew after sustaining a hamstring strain during the final week of The Hundred.

Markram tried his best to see the rainbow at the end of these injury clouds, preferring to focus on Jansen's return after the lanky allrounder underwent surgery on his left thumb.

"Marco has been out of cricket for a while but to run in with that energy and set the tone is important. Conditions favoured him with pace and bounce in the wicket," Markram said.