Maharaj on 'emotional' Kingsmead heroics: 'I wasn't frustrated at all'

Keshav Maharaj's vivid intensity as he bowled the Proteas to a first Test win at Kingsmead since 2013 wasn't pent-up frustration, merely just a "hunger and desire to win a game for your country".

The wily 32-year-old left-arm spinner - whose figures of 7/32 illuminated a 220-run victory over Bangladesh - is generally quite animated anyway when he simply bowls a good delivery, but his celebrations for wickets were definitely turned up a notch, particularly during his first two scalps late on the fourth day.

He had gone wicket-less for 37 overs in the Tigers' first innings while seeing his new partner-in-crime, Simon Harmer, claim four, leading to some wry speculation that he was simply annoyed.

Not so.

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"I wasn't frustrated at all," Maharaj said just after claiming the official Man of the Match award.

"I've played a lot of domestic cricket here so I know you're not going to take wickets here all the time.

"I was in a good space with how the ball was coming out of my hand. Sure, it was a bit frustrating to not getting reward, but having a world-class performer (in Harmer) at the other end is great. It's good to have that hunger and desire to win a game for your country."

Spurring him on even more was the presence of his father Athmanand, a former wicketkeeper himself, as well as his mother Kanchan and sister Tarisma at the ground, who even delayed the Proteas' logistics for a few minutes by posing for an official photograph with him near the main stand's grass embankment.

"It was very emotional for me. I love playing here, it's my home," said Maharaj.

"To have my family witness me help the team win made it even more special. We've