The second Test between India and South Africa at Newlands Park in Cape Town achieved an unwanted record. The series decider between the teams became the shortest Test match in cricket history, surpassing the Melbourne Test between Australia and South Africa.
Cape Town’s pitch for the second Test was a nightmare for the batsmen. The match was played in just 1 and a half days and only 4 and a half sessions were possible. The Rohit Sharma-led team won the game and emerged victorious by 7 wickets, leveling the series at 1-1.
In the first innings, the Indian bowlers bowled just 23.2 overs and defeated South Africa for just 55 runs. Mohammed Siraj was the pick of the bowlers as he picked six wickets. The hitters had no idea what was coming because the pitch had a lot of bounce and unchanging rhythm.
The Rohit Sharma-led team also did not have a great outing with the bat as they went all out for just 153 runs. South Africa’s pacers seemed unplayable and finished the innings in 35 overs. The pace trio of Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Nandre Burger picked three wickets each.
The second innings was no different as the players once again had their say and the wickets fell quite quickly. India bowled out South Africa by 176 runs and needed just 36.5 overs to conclude the innings. Aiden Markam looked the only steady batsman as he slammed a century, while Jasprit Bumrah picked 6 wickets.
India had a target of 79 runs to chase. His batsman came out with positive intentions, but still, some balls were unplayable. The field had demons as even in the chase the visitors lost 3 wickets but managed to win the game and tie the series 1-1.
The second Test between India and South Africa ended in just 642 balls, which is the shortest span of a game in cricket’s longest format. This raised many eyebrows and even captain Rohit Sharma criticized the pitch. Rohit He said he was fine playing on those pitches but people should not raise their voice when the pitches light up on the first day in India.
IND vs SA: Shortest Test in cricket history; India vs South, second test at the top
The second Test between India and South Africa became the shortest Test in the history of the game. The second shortest match in the longest format of the game was between Australia and South Africa in Melbourne, which lasted 652 balls. West vs England in 1935 is also listed along with India vs England at Ahmedabad, which lasted 842 balls.
Here is the list of shortest completed Tests in cricket history.
S.NoMatchVenueYearWon Byballs1SA vs INDCape Town2024India6422.AUS vs SAMelbourne1932Australia6563.WI vs ENGBridgetown1935England6724.ENG vs AUSManchester1888England7885.ENG vs AUSLord’s1888Australia7926.SA vs ENGCape Town1889 Eng land7967.ENG vs AUSThe Oval1912England8158.IND vs ENGAhmedabad2021India842
