South Africa’s clear strategy to attack with spin paid off in a big way as they secured a 98-run victory over Australia. Keshav Maharaj’s five-wicket haul was the culmination of a well-laid plan that the hosts had no answer for.
The plan began with the batsmen setting a strong total of 8-296, giving their spinners a cushion to work with. Aiden Markram (82) and Temba Bavuma (65) were key to this, ensuring the pressure was on the Australian chase from the start.
The execution of the plan was flawless. After an initial burst from the pacers, the spinners were introduced, and the game changed. Maharaj’s 5-33 was the decisive performance, sparking a collapse that saw Australia lose 6-29.
Despite Mitch Marsh’s 88, the Australian team was outsmarted. The success of the spin strategy gives South Africa a huge psychological advantage for the rest of the series.
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