SA v IND: Record of 'shortest completed Test' shattered after 90 years
Cape Town match breaks previous record of Melbourne's red-ball fixture played in 1932
January 04, 2024
A new history has been made in cricket after the second red-ball fixture between South Africa and India became the shortest-ever completed Test after over nine decades.
Before the Cape Town match, the shortest Test was played between Australia and South Africa in Melbourne in 1932 which lasted for 656 balls (109 overs).
The previous record was shattered after the Cape Town Test was wrapped up in just 642 balls (107 overs).
After facing a humiliating defeat in the first Test in Centurion, which India lost by an innings and 32 runs, the visiting team held its nerve and chased down the target of 78 in just 12 overs to level the two-match series after they bowled South Africa out for 176 in the second innings.
Additionally, the victory brought India to the top of the World Test Championship 2023-25 table after their first Test win in Cape Town, according to ESPNcricinfo.
Both teams ended up sharing the trophy after India’s win saw tie the series 1-1.
Shortest Test matches (In terms of balls)
- 642 balls - India beat South Africa by seven wickets (2023; Cape Town)
- 656 balls - Australia beat South Africa by an innings and 72 runs (1932; Melbourne)
- 672 balls - England beat West Indies by four wickets (1935; Bridgetown)
- 788 balls - England beat Australia by an innings and 21 runs (1888; Manchester)
- 792 balls - Australia beat England by 61 runs (1888; Lord’s)
Match summary
In pursuit of a modest target on a challenging pitch, Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal aggressively took charge from the onset, scoring 28 runs off 23 deliveries before being caught on the boundary off Nandre Burger.
Both Shubman Gill (10) and Virat Kohli (12) were dismissed by Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen respectively, prior to Shreyas Iyer securing victory with a boundary off his only scoring shot.
Captain Rohit Sharma remained unbeaten on 16.
Aided by Markram's 106 off 103 balls, South Africa were bowled out for 176 shortly before lunch.
Jasprit Bumrah claimed figures of six for 61, narrowly missing out on dismissing Markram at 71 when the batsman edged a drive, and wicketkeeper KL Rahul couldn't grasp a catch above his head.
Markram tackled a pitch offering pace, significant seam movement, and erratic bounce, where no other teammate managed a score higher than 15 in either innings.
His innings included 17 fours and two sixes, one of which sailed out of the ground and landed on a railway line beyond square leg off Prasidh Krishna.
The 29-year-old opener was eventually caught at mid-off by Sharma off Mohammed Siraj, attempting another expansive shot.
Siraj played a pivotal role in India's victory, claiming figures of six for 15 as South Africa crumbled to 55 all out before lunch on Wednesday.
A total of twenty-three wickets tumbled on the first day.
