The second ODI between South Africa and Australia was filled with excitement and a heated argument between South African captain Temba Bavuma and senior wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock was also one of the big talking points of the match.
South Africa’s fielding innings at the Wanderers Stadium was not without controversy, however, but the players had to come to South Africa’s rescue in order to avoid it getting worse.
The match was filled with big performances. South Africa, who were first to bat, recorded 365 runs, led by centuries from captain Temba Bavuma and David Miller. Bavuma had a key captain’s innings and scored 103 runs and Miller 142. Their performance set South Africa up in a leadership position and Australia had 366 runs to chase.
But Bavuma and de Kock’s moment came late in Australia’s chase. Australia’s lower-order batter Xavier Bartlett had launched an aggressive counterattack and hit a quick half-century, causing some concerns for the South African side despite the huge target.
The key incident happened in the 48th over when South African fast bowler Lungi Ngidi's teammate Lizaad Williams delivered a yorker that hit Bartlett on the pads. South African players immediately appealed for LBW, but the on-field umpire ruled that the batter was not out.
Williams seemed to want South Africa to review the decision and as the game turned in its final stretch. But wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock told him that he thought the delivery was going down the leg side and should not spend too much time reviewing it. From behind the stumps, de Kock’s assessment appeared to be based on his view of the ball’s trajectory.
However, Captain Bavuma ultimately went against de Kock's advice and asked for a DRS review before the allotted time ended. The decision appeared to frustrate de Kock, which was the cause of a tense exchange between the two South African players.
Bavuma was seen gesturing toward de Kock and apparently asking him to remain quiet. De Kock then moved towards the captain, and the row turned into a heated on-field argument. Television cameras captured the unusual clash between two members of the same team and the event was caught in the spotlight.
As the tension rose, South African players intervened. David Miller and Marco Jansen approached de Kock and helped calm the situation down before taking him away from the initial confrontation. The incident was very popular on social media and video of the exchange circulated amongst cricket fans.
The DRS result added another twist to the episode. Ball-tracking showed that the delivery would have gone straight to the middle stump, so the original not-out decision was overturned. Bartlett was given out LBW, confirming Bavuma's decision to review the umpire's call had been successful.
The review was a critical breakthrough for South Africa at a crucial moment of Australia’s chase. Australia were eventually bowled out and South Africa won by 32 runs to win with Bartlett still waiting for the end of the game. The result gave the hosts a 2-0 lead in the ODI series.
The Bavuma and de Kock incident therefore became an unusual subplot to a match in which South Africa's batting performance and eventual victory took precedence. There's nothing unusual in disputes between players during high-pressure moments; however, two South African players involved in a heated exchange on the field made it more evident.
The exchange between Temba Bavuma and de Kock. He has to respect Bavuma as a captain. pic.twitter.com/zo8KBKNiNA
— Ngqanga Nentsiba Zayo (@Intengu_drongo) September 27, 2026
The successful DRS review also added a further layer of drama. De Kock had initially thought that the review might be wasteful, and Bavuma had to trust his own judgement and challenge the umpire's decision. The technology would finally reinforce the captain's decision.
South Africa’s victory was more important as the team went 2-0 ahead in the series. Bavuma’s century, Miller’s powerful 142 and the team’s ability to defend 365 were the central stories of the match, and the on-field disagreement between the captain and de Kock was one of its most talked-about moments.
