South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI 2025
South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI 2025 turned out to be a memorable game for the Proteas as they defeated Australia by 98 runs in Cairns. The hero of the day was left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who took his maiden five-wicket haul in One Day Internationals. His 5 for 33 broke Australia’s strong start and turned the match completely in South Africa’s favour.
Australia had begun their chase of 296 runs with a strong opening stand but soon collapsed dramatically. From 60 for no loss, they slipped to 89 for six. Only Mitchell Marsh showed some resistance with a fighting 88 off 96 balls, but South Africa were always in control after Maharaj’s brilliant spell.
South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI 2025 – Match Summary
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Venue: Cairns, Australia
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Result: South Africa won by 98 runs
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South Africa’s Score: 296/8 in 50 overs
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Australia’s Score: 198 in 40.5 overs
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Top Performers:
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Aiden Markram (82), Temba Bavuma (65), Matthew Breetzke (57)
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Keshav Maharaj (5/33), Travis Head (4/57), Mitchell Marsh (88)
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South Africa’s Batting Performance
South Africa batted first and scored a competitive total of 296 runs in their 50 overs. The innings was built around three important partnerships and a quick start from the openers. South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI 2025
Aiden Markram Leads the Way
Aiden Markram was promoted to open the innings alongside Ryan Rickelton. The two batsmen added 92 runs for the first wicket. Rickelton scored 33 but looked uncomfortable throughout his stay. He survived close calls with LBW and run-out decisions but was finally dismissed by Travis Head. South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI 2025
Markram, however, was in excellent form. He played shots all around the ground, especially on the off side. He reached his half-century off 54 balls and continued scoring quickly. Just as he was looking set for a century, he edged a ball to the wicketkeeper on 82. South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI 2025
Temba Bavuma Returns with Composure
Captain Temba Bavuma, playing his first ODI since the World Test Championship Final, looked solid. He played the anchor role, keeping the scoreboard ticking while letting his partners attack. Bavuma scored 65 valuable runs, showing great timing and placement. South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI 2025
Matthew Breetzke’s First Major Impact
Young batter Matthew Breetzke gave South Africa momentum with an attacking 57. His partnership of 98 runs with Bavuma helped South Africa recover after Markram’s dismissal and pushed the score close to 200.
Late Contributions
Australia struck back with Travis Head taking four wickets, including quick dismissals of Tristan Stubbs and debutant Dewald Brevis. However, Wiaan Mulder’s quick 31 off 26 balls helped South Africa finish at 296 – a total that proved more than enough.
Australia’s Chase
Australia started the chase with great intent, smashing 50 runs in the first five overs. Their openers looked in command, and it seemed like they were on track to chase down the target. However, the story changed dramatically once the spinners came into play. South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI 2025
Subrayen Strikes First
Off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen took his first ODI wicket by dismissing Travis Head for 27. Head, who had looked dangerous, tried to charge down the pitch but was stumped. That wicket opened the door for South Africa.
Maharaj’s Magic Spell
Keshav Maharaj then produced one of the finest spells of his career. With his very first ball, he trapped Marnus Labuschagne LBW. Next, he dismissed Cameron Green with a ball that spun past his bat.
He followed it up by removing Alex Carey, who was caught sweeping, and Aaron Hardie, who was bowled by a turning delivery. His fifth wicket came soon after, leaving Australia reeling at 89 for six. Maharaj’s control, flight, and variation left Australia helpless. South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI 2025
Marsh’s Lone Battle
Mitchell Marsh tried his best to rescue Australia with a fighting knock of 88. He faced 96 balls and hit boundaries whenever he got the chance. Marsh also added 71 runs with Ben Dwarshius, who scored 33. However, once Marsh fell, the result was clear. Australia were bowled out for 198 in the 41st over.
Key Highlights of South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI 2025
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Keshav Maharaj’s Five-Wicket Haul – His first-ever in ODIs, and a match-winning performance.
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Markram’s Aggressive 82 – Set the platform for South Africa’s total.
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Bavuma’s Steady 65 – Provided stability in the middle overs.
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Mitchell Marsh’s Brave 88 – The only resistance from Australia.
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Travis Head’s 4 Wickets – Best bowler for Australia despite ending on the losing side.
What This Win Means for South Africa
The victory in the South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI 2025 gives the Proteas a 1-0 lead in the series. It shows the strength of their spin bowling, with both Subrayen and Maharaj making big impacts. The batting unit also showed depth, with contributions from both seniors and youngsters.
For South Africa, this win is important in building momentum for the rest of the series and also looking ahead to bigger tournaments like the ICC Champions Trophy and ODI World Cup in future years.
Australia’s Concerns
For Australia, the collapse will be a big worry. Despite a strong start, their middle-order could not handle spin pressure. With Marsh fighting alone, the lack of support from other batsmen cost them dearly.
They will need to regroup quickly for the second ODI if they want to stay in the series. Better application against spin will be key. South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI 2025
The South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI 2025 was a thrilling contest that highlighted the importance of spin bowling in modern cricket. Keshav Maharaj’s match-winning five-for will be remembered for years, and South Africa’s all-round performance proved too strong for Australia. South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI 2025
With this 98-run win, South Africa have made a powerful statement. The rest of the ODI series promises to be just as exciting.
