Travis Head proved the surprise package with the ball in the first ODI between Australia and South Africa in Cairns, grabbing 4/57 as the visitors made a fighting 296/8 in their 50 overs, but he was overshadowed by a superior spin-bowling performance by Keshav Maharaj.
Maharaj, 35, back from an injury layoff, spun a web around Australia’s batting under lights to seal a 98-run win for the Proteas. Chasing 297, Australia surrendered five wickets in the span of 26 deliveries to Maharaj as they slumped to 89/6 on the way to an eventual total of 198 in 40.5 overs.
Australia’s captain Mitchell Marsh was the standout batsman with 88 off 96 balls, with the next best in a sorry scorecard being Ben Dwarshius down the order with 33.
Marsh led the chase and helped his team to 60 for no loss in seven overs, while Head took five fours in one Nandre Burger over. But once Temba Bavuma introduced spin from both ends, the chase gave way in dramatic fashion. Prenelan Subrayen, on his ODI debut, had Head stumped for 27 which allowed Maharaj to weave a web with his left-arm spin.
Immediately he had success with the lbw wicket of Marnus Labuschagne, then spun one pas the bat of Cameron Green to hit off stump. The double whammy came when Maharaj sent back the two wicketkeepers, Josh Inglis and Alex Carey, off successive deliveries. Inglis, the designated ‘keeper for this ODI, was bowled when going back in his crease, and next ball Carey made a meal of an attempted paddle sweep.
The fifth came when Aaron Hardie was bowled, meaning it was Maharaj’s first five-for in ODI cricket. His crippling spell saw Australia lose six wickets for 29 runs in 10 overs, leaving a rather peeved Marsh to try and save face.
With Dwarshuis he added 71, and his fifty need just 51 deliveries. But Burger bounced out Marsh and Dwarshuis to effectively end the match.
Earlier, Aiden Markram shrugged off a lean run in the preceding T20I leg of South Africa’s tour with a solid 82 off 81 balls, but the innings fell away somewhat after his dismissal even though Bavuma (66) and Matthew Breetzke (57) did show some spine.
As the wind blew hard across Cazalys Stadium, one envisioned Australia’s three quicks – Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Ellis and Dwarshuis – would use the conditions to do some early damage. Instead, South Africa’s openers put on 92 before Head’s part-time offspin did the damage.
Markram, who entered this series after scoring just 31 in three T20Is last week, found the longer format to his liking and set the tone for a strong start. He drove square and down the ground with precision, showing a liking to pace on the bat. The left-handed Ryan Rickelton ticked along in the shadow of Markram, and though the start was not rapid, in seeing off the Powerplay without loss the South African openers had done well.
Head’s offerings snapped the stand at 92 when Rickelton (33) stepped out to clear the infield but found the man at mid-off. This ushered in Bavuma who continued his ODI form with a fine innings of 65 while steering his team through the middle overs.
Markram looked set for three figures until, on 82 from 80 balls, he threw it away with a faint edge to Josh Inglis off Dwarshius in the 24th over. Bavuma was joined by Breetzke and a solid partnership followed, one in which the pair ran well and tried to undo the good work that Head and Adam Zampa had done in slowing the run rate.
Breetzke was quick to cut and drive into the gaps and with Bavuma, who now averages 44.46 in ODIs, he seemed set for the last ten. However, that block began with Zampa getting Breetzke holing out to the deep, followed by the wickets of Tristan Stubbs and the debutant Dewald Brevis – who struck his first ball in ODIs for six – in the same over from Head.
Bavuma motored along to 66 before a slog at Dwarshuis saw him bowled in the 46th over, and Head would have fancied a maiden five-for in ODIs when he added Maharaj as his fourth wicket. That didn’t happen, but a clutch innings of 31 not out off 26 balls from Wiaan Mulder got South Africa to an above-par total.
