Joshua Richards lauds Keshav Maharaj after earning a rare knock against Proteas spinner

At times, it is easy to overlook the importance of having Test players come down to domestic cricket to impart their knowledge and skills in the local scene.

The ongoing CSA Four-Day Series fixture between the Dolphins and Lions at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban reminded everyone just how vital it is to have your Test players return to domestic cricket.

While the Proteas Test squad is currently in Pakistan preparing for the first Test, Keshav Maharaj is leading the Dolphins at Kingsmead, getting his bowling loads up after sustaining an injury in England that led to him missing the first of two Tests in Pakistan.

With Maharaj back in the Dolphins team, Lions opening batter Joshua Richards had a front-row seat to watch the experienced Test cricketer go about his business.

With the bat, Maharaj made Richards and his teammates chase the leather around Kingsmead, smashing 43 not out off 52 deliveries with six fours and two sixes as he helped the Dolphins reach a respectable first-innings total of 389 all out.

Richards would go on to face Maharaj as he top-scored for the Lions on Day Two, scoring 72 off 93 balls.

The right-handed batter praised Maharaj for his skills with the ball, as he got a rare opportunity to face one of the best off-spinners of this generation.

“Just facing a bowler like Keshav, grinding it out there. Keshav is the best in the world for a reason,” said Richards.

“Every ball is different. He changes his pace phenomenally well, keeps you guessing, and it’s very hard to line him up.

“Keshav is a good batter. He likes to fight fire with fire. You can see what he did today; he’s a very destructive batter.”

Richards and his opening partner, Dominic Hendricks, took a liking to left-arm spinner Bryce Parsons’ bowling on Day Two, attacking the spinner to set a solid foundation of 108 before Richards lost his wicket.

Richards highlighted that it was a conscious decision to attack Parsons as the opening batters looked to increase the scoring rate and put pressure on the Dolphins’ bowling attack.

“I just think that little period when Bryce Parsons came on, Dom (Hendricks) and I had a chat in the middle, and we decided that we needed to take on the game a little bit to get the seam bowlers on, and upset them a little. I’m glad that came off during that period,” Richards said.

“Dom and I batted nicely together; we gave a bit of a platform for the team, but quick wickets brought them back into the game.”

Day Three of the encounter is set to get underway at 10am SAST, and the Lions trail by 160 with five wickets in hand.