Maharaj delivers a five-star spell for Proteas victory

AFTER being left out of the Proteas squad for the T20I series, Keshav Maharaj arrived in Australia determined to show he remains a force to be reckoned with in white-ball cricket.

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

Despite being 35 years old, he stressed that he still wanted to be a “match-winner” for the Proteas across all three formats.

Well, the newly crowned SA Cricketer of the Year certainly sent a timely reminder that he wants to be part of the conversations going forward with a career-best maiden five-wicket haul in Cairns last night.

In the unfamiliar spin-friendly conditions, Maharaj spun a web around the Australia middle-order to claim 5/33 as the hosts' pursuit of the Proteas' 296/8 collapsed in an almighty heap.

Australia had stormed to 60 without loss in just seven overs, but proceeded to lose 6/29 in the midst of Maharaj's wizardry.

It was, however, debutant Prenelan Subrayen (1/46) that precipitated the collapse after flummoxing Travis Head (27 off 24 balls) through the air to allow Ryan Rickleton to whip off the bails.