Keshav Maharaj claimed that he benefited from Tamim Iqbal’s recommendation regarding Dhaka’s tone. The left-arm spinner has taken six wickets in the first Test match against Bangladesh at the Shere Bangla National Stadium so far, bowling virtually the best design and size in states that have helped both seamers and spinners. South Africa are in a good position in the game and need three more wickets to take Bangladesh out of their second innings with the hosts by 81 runs.
“I just sent Tamim bhai a message,” Maharaj said. “I have a good relationship with him. Obviously we play in the BPL. I just asked for some advice depending on the conditions and how to do the business. He gave me a few words about how the wicket would be played. It wasn’t bad. He read the wicket all the way to the tee.”
Maharaj played with Tamim for Fortune Barishal in BPL 2024. He took three wickets in three matches, but they were all at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. Maharaj is enjoying his first match in Dhaka and thus did what alternative bowlers who visit the subcontinent do in another country. In 1998, Shane Warne contacted Bishen Singh Bedi so that he could have better knowledge about bowling with Sachin Tendulkar.
South Africa began the third period games with 3 wickets within the first half hour before Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Jaker Ali put on 138 runs for the 7th wicket. Maharaj bowled 37 overs, taking 3 for 105.
“It’s nice to have a marathon period outside the belt,” he said. “I love bowling. We should bowl a little less [square] I cut balls at the beginning of the spell, but I think I adapted quite well. “When the ball grew a little bit, there wasn’t much reaction from the wicket, so I tried to keep it as tight as possible.”
Maharaj’s discipline allows him to play both attacking and defensive games according to his physical condition. He helped build up energy from the other end when Kagiso Rabada was working hard in the first inquiry and later South Africa appeared to pose as the main caution, which he did to break a great partnership and regain Jaker’s wicket. .
“We have a four-pitcher lineup in our attack,” Maharaj said. “My job, apart from trying to create chances, was to hold on for an end. I think this morning when I was bowling together with KG [Rabada]You could see that his tail was raised and he managed to get the ball to do a little.
“So my activity at that time was aiming and finishing, and later when the motion came, I posed a bit more when the ball started spinning. I feel like as a spinner you have to allow yourself to pick and play those long spells on a wicket. like this, realizing that there is a ball that can turn and be in your favor. Fortunately, against the end in the middle of my witchcraft, I received some praise for it.”
Maharaj credited Mehidy and Jaker for carrying out the rearguard action. He said South Africa tried very hard to eliminate the couple but was unable to do so for a long period. “I think the day before was probably the time where we went a little bit looking for (wickets), if I’m honest. And then we got the three wickets, and I think Mehidy and Jaker Ali performed very well.
“We threw everything at them and I don’t think we took our foot off the gas. I think they played very well and you have to give credit to the hitters in that situation,” he said.
