By AFP
CAIRNS: Aiden Markram hit 82 before left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj tore through Australia’s new-look batting order as South Africa claimed the One-day International series opener by 98 runs in Cairns on Tuesday.
Sent in to bat, Markram — opening for the first time in ODIs since 2021 — crunched nine boundaries in his 81-ball knock to power South Africa to a formidable 296-8.
Skipper Temba Bavuma (65) and Matthew Breetzke (57) also helped set the tone for the three-match ODI series.
In reply, openers Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head flattened South Africa’s pacemen as Australia raced to 60-0 after seven overs.
But the match flipped after the introduction of spin, with Maharaj conjuring rampant turn and he picked up four wickets in his first 15 balls.
He finished with career-best figures of 5-33 from 10 overs as Australia were dismissed for 198 in the 41st over.
It was a strong bounce back from South Africa after their 2-1 defeat in the Twenty20 series between the teams.
“I just tried to util