India vs South Africa match in Cape Town breaks 92-year-old record
India and South Africa broke a 92-year-old Test record during the second and final match of their series in Cape Town on Thursday (January 4). With India winning the second Test over South Africa at the Newlands Cricket Stadium in Cape Town, the match is now the shortest-ever completed (in terms of balls bowled) in the longest format’s history. The two-match series ended 1-1. South Africa had won the first game in Centurion by an innings and 32 runs. The Cape Town Test ended during the second session of the second day. Only 642 deliveries were bowled during the Test. The shortest Test before this game was in 1932 between Australia and South Africa (656 balls) in Melbourne. Batting first, South Africa were bowled out for just 55 and in reply India were all out for 153, losing their last six wickets for no run, in 11 balls. As many as 23 wickets fell on the first day.
Shortest completed Test matches (by balls bowled) – Top five 642 balls – India vs South Africa, Cape Town 2024
The 2024 Cape Town Test between South Africa and India became the shortest completed Test match as the game only lasted for 107 overs. The Dean Elgar-led hosts were bowled out for 55 in 23.2 overs in the first innings of the second Test of India’s tour of South Africa in 2024. Mohammed Siraj was the wrecker-in-chief for India with six wickets for just 15 runs. In reply, India could only manage 153 in their 34.5 overs. Interestingly, the visitors lost their last six wickets without a run. Later, South Africa rode on Aiden Markram’s 106 to post 176 all out in 36.5 overs in their second innings to keep their hopes alive. However, Rohit Sharma’s India chased down 79 in 12 overs to register an emphatic victory and also level the series 1-1.
