The Proteas staged a remarkable comeback after conceding early runs in the initial powerplay, with Australia standing at 74/2. Travis Head accelerated to a blistering fifty off a mere 40 deliveries, propelling Australia past the 100-run mark by the 14th over.
Yet, Maharaj swiftly altered the narrative, claiming Head’s wicket on his very first delivery, dismantling the stumps cleanly. Shamsi, despite earlier granting some dropped chances, regained his rhythm by dismissing Marnus Labuschagne. His dominance persisted through the rest of the match.
It seemed Shamsi unleashed a flatter, quicker delivery aimed at the middle stump. Maxwell, attempting a powerful shot from deep within his crease, appeared deceived by the pace and trajectory.
The ball potentially kept low, eluding Maxwell’s bat entirely and crashing into the leg stump, sending Maxwell back to the pavilion. Shamsi’s dismissal of Maxwell was a testament to a well-executed delivery, prompting an exuberant celebration from the bowler.
Drawing inspiration from the legacy of South Africa’s spinner Imran Tahir, Shamsi’s jubilant sprint around the ground paid homage to Tahir’s iconic celebration style.