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In a rare and unexpected moment during the second ODI between South Africa and New Zealand in Lahore, South Africa’s fielding coach, Wandile Gwavu, was seen stepping onto the field as a substitute fielder.
A fielding coach in action: Wandile Gwavu
A viral video from the match captured Gwavu actively fielding, showcasing his commitment to South Africa’s fielding standards beyond just coaching duties. This rare sighting took place during the 37th over of New Zealand’s innings when the team was in pursuit of a challenging 305-run target.
The Proteas found themselves in a unique situation where they had exhausted all their available substitutes, leaving them with no choice but to deploy Gwavu as an emergency replacement. Having recently been appointed as South Africa’s full-time white-ball fielding coach, Gwavu’s impromptu fielding stint added a light-hearted yet remarkable moment to the high-pressure encounter. His unexpected presence on the field became a talking point among cricket enthusiasts, highlighting the Proteas’ challenging situation as they struggled to defend their total.
Here’s the video:
We don’t see that happening too often! 😅
South Africa’s fielding coach Wandile Gwavu came on as a substitute fielder during the New Zealand innings! 👀#TriNationSeriesonFanCode pic.twitter.com/ilU5Zj2Xxn
— FanCode (@FanCode) February 10, 2025
Also READ: Kane Williamson overtakes Virat Kohli to accomplish a major milestone in ODI cricket
Kane Williamson leads the charge for New Zealand against South Africa
Earlier in the match, South Africa posted a competitive total of 304/6 in their allotted 50 overs, thanks to a sensational century by Matthew Breetzke. The young batter played a commanding knock of 150 runs, anchoring the innings and providing his team with a fighting chance. Despite Breetzke’s heroics, the Proteas found themselves on the back foot as New Zealand made steady progress in their chase.
At the time of Gwavu’s unexpected fielding cameo, New Zealand was well on course to victory at 264/4 in 41 overs, needing just 41 runs from 54 balls. Kane Williamson, the backbone of New Zealand’s batting, was unbeaten on 112, playing a captain’s knock to steer his team closer to the target. His sublime innings, supported by Devon Conway’s 97, put the Black Caps in a dominant position, making South Africa’s bowling attack struggle for breakthroughs.
In the end, New Zealand comfortably registered a six-wicket victory with eight balls to spare, courtesy of Williamson’s match-winning knock. However, the most memorable takeaway from the game remained the sight of South Africa’s fielding coach stepping in as an active fielder, an occurrence rarely witnessed in international cricket.
