The left-arm spinner ripped the heart out of the home side's batting order with figures of 5-33 in 10 overs as Australia were 198 all out, chasing a target of 297.

The Aussies got off to a flying start in the run-chase as openers Mitch Marsh and Travis Head put on 60 in the first seven overs with seamers Lungi Ngidi and Nandre Burger proving expensive.

Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma introduced spin within the powerplay and the move paid immediate dividends when debutant Prenelan Subrayen (1-46) had Head stumped for 26.

Enter Maharaj, the wily 35-year-old initiated a stunning collapse as the hosts stumbled to 89-6 in the 17th over with the slow-bowler bowling 10 overs unchanged.

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The Australia batters could not handle Maharaj's subtle changes of pace while he always kept the stumps in play, as he had three batters clean bowled and the other two trapped lbw.

Home captain Marsh was watching the carnage happen from the other end and found a willing partner in number eight Ben Dwarshuis, the pair adding 71 for the seventh wicket to provide a glimmer of hope.

Burger (2-54) was brought back into the attack and the extra pace delivered the breakthrough when Dwarshuis was dismissed for 33 before Marsh fell to the same bowler for 88 off 96 balls to leave the Aussies on 174-8.

Ngidi (2-28) then accounted for the final two scalps to finish contest with Maharaj deservedly receiving the player-of-the-match award.

The Proteas earlier posted a total of 296-8 in 50 overs with opener Aiden Markram top-scoring with a run-a-ball 82 while Bavuma struck 65 and Matthew Breetzke a quick-fire 57.

The Proteas can wrap up a series victory with the second game taking place in Mackay on Friday.

Fall of Wickets	Player	Score	Overs	Bowler	Out
2	Kusal Mendis	62	8.5	Arafat Minhas	Clean Bowled
1	Avishka Fernando	50	6.5	Shaheen Shah Afridi	Catch OUT

Finished Pakistan ODI Tri-Series