While the South African batters and pacers have hogged most of the limelight in the ongoing World Cup 2023, spinner Keshav Maharaj gave a reminder to everyone of his prowess amid the stars in this team.
South Africa recorded another gigantic victory batting first – winning by 190 runs against New Zealand in Pune and went to the top of the points table.
Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen starred with the bat with thumping centuries before Keshav Maharaj’s four-wicket haul and Marco Jansen’s three-wicket haul downed the Kiwi batting, bowling New Zealand out for only 167.
This included a brilliant bowled dismissal from Keshav Maharaj of Mitchell Santner. The pitch, surprisingly, offered a great deal of grip and turn for spinners in the second innings, which Maharaj used to good effect.
The left-arm spinner, bowling from over the wicket angle, pitched the ball on a perfect length – one on which Santner was confused whether to play on the front foot or push back on the back foot – and couldn’t decide. The confused Santner didn’t move much and couldn’t do much as well when the ball turned in sharply and clattered into the off-stump, pegging the pole back.
Even wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock was very impressed and gave a reaction of astonishment. Keshav Maharaj first did the folding hands, and then thumped his chest to show some aggression on taking a wicket in this manner.
You can watch the video at the end of this article.
Maharaj finished with figures of 4/46.
Temba Bavuma, the South Africa captain, said: “Clinical display I would say. We had a good partnership between de Kock and Rassie. Fairly happy, clinical in terms of the execution by the bowlers. Quinny and I tried to assess the conditions. We pouched on the bad balls, was able to get a couple of away. Quinny wasn’t in his flow at the start, but stuck to the plan – go unscathed till the 30th over and then maximize with our big hitters.”
Watch: Aggressive chest-thumping celebration by Keshav Maharaj
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