198/10 (40.5)
CR : 4.85
296/8 (50.0)
CR : 5.92
South Africa won by 98 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Keshav Maharaj
5/3313(12)
Biggest Win by Runs for South Africa vs Australia in Australia in ODIs:
98 Runs, Cairns, 2025, This Match*
82 Runs, W.A.C.A., 1994
67 Runs, Sydney, 1997
98 Runs, Cairns, 2025, This Match*
82 Runs, W.A.C.A., 1994
67 Runs, Sydney, 1997
Time for the Post-Match Presentation!
Player of the Match: Keshav Maharaj
Keshav Maharaj (Player of the Match): "Well, I made my Debut in 2016 in Australia and it was a wonderful opportunity for me to get my first fifer. Yeah, I just tried to use the conditions. The wicket was a little bit sticky with the new ball. I tried to make full utilization of the surface and got it's reward.
Yeah, I think the boys gave us an idea of what we can expect from the surface after they played in the T20Is. There was some turn and the wicket got slower as the match went on. I think Prenelan bowled brilliantly and he made my life a lot easier picking up the first wicket. I just tried to use the angles of the crease and fortunate enough to get my first fifer.
Well, it was a well-rounded performance from the team. We are really happy to take a lead in this series. It was a good batting display on a tricky display and we were clinical with the ball."
Yeah, I think the boys gave us an idea of what we can expect from the surface after they played in the T20Is. There was some turn and the wicket got slower as the match went on. I think Prenelan bowled brilliantly and he made my life a lot easier picking up the first wicket. I just tried to use the angles of the crease and fortunate enough to get my first fifer.
Well, it was a well-rounded performance from the team. We are really happy to take a lead in this series. It was a good batting display on a tricky display and we were clinical with the ball."
Mitchell Marsh (Australia Captain): "Keshav is an outstanding bowler. Certainly a little bit more spin than we expected but you gotta keep your hats off to someone like him and he won the game.
It's a lack of confidence as a whole over the last period of time. We play spin well as a group and he bowled well and got some crucial wickets.
[On bringing another spinner at McKay] We will look at the conditions and make a decision based on that."
It's a lack of confidence as a whole over the last period of time. We play spin well as a group and he bowled well and got some crucial wickets.
[On bringing another spinner at McKay] We will look at the conditions and make a decision based on that."
Temba Bavuma (South Africa Captain): "Yeah, good all-round performance from the boys. We were put into bat and I think we did a good job with the bat. The wicket was a bit slow, it was a little bit two-paced but we did a really good job to post a strong total. The bowlers did their job in the 2nd Innings.
Well, it was not a bad toss to lose. I didn't expect the wicket to turn that much. There was some variable bounce. I think Kesh (Keshav Maharaj) showed his class there while the others chipped in as well.
Yeah, the boys made me look good with that decision (of introducing spin inside the first powerplay). I think it's basically experience playing against Australia because they like pace coming on early in the innings. After seeing the conditions, we had our weapons with the spin and fortunately it came off well for us today.
Yeah, I think we batted really well. I had to bat deep in the innings and we wanted to get to a score of something around 300. We gave ourselves a really good opportunity to defend the score."
Well, it was not a bad toss to lose. I didn't expect the wicket to turn that much. There was some variable bounce. I think Kesh (Keshav Maharaj) showed his class there while the others chipped in as well.
Yeah, the boys made me look good with that decision (of introducing spin inside the first powerplay). I think it's basically experience playing against Australia because they like pace coming on early in the innings. After seeing the conditions, we had our weapons with the spin and fortunately it came off well for us today.
Yeah, I think we batted really well. I had to bat deep in the innings and we wanted to get to a score of something around 300. We gave ourselves a really good opportunity to defend the score."
Most Wickets Taken by Spinners in an ODI in Australia:
12 - Australia vs Pakistan at Adelaide, 1996
11 - Australia vs Pakistan at Sydney, 1997
11 - Australia vs South Africa at Cairns, This Match*
12 - Australia vs Pakistan at Adelaide, 1996
11 - Australia vs Pakistan at Sydney, 1997
11 - Australia vs South Africa at Cairns, This Match*
Best Bowling Figures in ODIs by South Africa Spinners:
7/45 – Imran Tahir vs West Indies at Basseterre, 2016
6/24 – Imran Tahir vs Zimbabwe at Bloemfontein, 2018
5/21 – Nicky Boje vs Australia at Cape Town, 2002
5/33 – Keshav Maharaj vs Australia at Cairns, 2025*
5/45 – Imran Tahir vs West Indies at Sydney, 2015
7/45 – Imran Tahir vs West Indies at Basseterre, 2016
6/24 – Imran Tahir vs Zimbabwe at Bloemfontein, 2018
5/21 – Nicky Boje vs Australia at Cape Town, 2002
5/33 – Keshav Maharaj vs Australia at Cairns, 2025*
5/45 – Imran Tahir vs West Indies at Sydney, 2015
A cracker of a game to kick start the series, the World Champions Australia would look to climb back stronger in the 2nd ODI set to be played at McKay. Ninaad Dixit here signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Pritam Dey, scorer Dushyant Madhukar Kumar and statistician Aman. Thank you for joining us throughout this game and stay tuned for more action from all over the world!