Aiden Markram hit 82 before left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj tore through Australia’s new-look batting order as South Africa claimed the ODI series opener by 98 runs in Cairns on Tuesday.

Sent in to bat, Markram crunched nine boundaries in his 81-ball knock to power SA to 296-8. 

In reply, openers Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head flattened SA’s pacemen as Australia raced to 60-0 after seven overs.  But the match flipped after the introduction of spin. Maharaj finished with career-best figures of 5-33 from 10 overs as Australia were dismissed for 198 in the 41st over.