Shortest Completed Test Match: India Script History in Cape Town With Win in 642 Balls

India’s dominating series-leveling win against South Africa was one for the record books as both sides officially registered the shortest Test cricket match ever in the history of the gentleman’s game.

India put away the menacing Proteas and claimed a seven-wicket win over South Africa in Cape Town and registered their first-ever win at the Newlands.

But, an even more fascinating tidbit about the win is that India and South Africa registered the shortest ever Test match in its entire history.

Both sides achieved this feat by playing out all the four innings within 107 overs, or to be precise, 642 balls, within a mere two days.

The previous record for the shortest Test match to be played was 656 balls, which was between Australia and South Africa, back in 1932.

Day one of the second Test between India and South Africa consisted of 23 wickets, as hosts South Africa batted twice on the same day by the end of it all.

In their first innings, the hosts succumbed to a rampant Mohammad Siraj, who picked off at the Protean batting order with ease, claiming a fifer along the way as India bowled them out for a meagre 55.

India had their eyes set on setting themselves up for a huge lead, but alas the pitch would not work in their favour as well. The pace trio of Rabada, Ngidi and Burger blitzed through the Indian ranks, picking up three wickets each, and bowled out the Men in Blue for a sufficient 153, giving India a lead of 98 runs.

South Africa set out to right their wrongs in the first innings, but to no avail as a ravaging Jasprit Bumrah ran riot over their batting order to claim himself a fifer.

But, a sensational counter-attack from opener Aiden Markram atleast ensured that the Proteas dig themselves out of the deficit and pose some target.

Markram’s blitzkrieg ended up with him registering a fabulous 106 runs off 103 balls, peppered with 17 boundaries and 2 sixes, before he was removed by Siraj.

India then made light work of the remaining batters and bowled out the hosts for 176, setting themselves an easy target of 79 to chase down.

After a slashing start from opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who set the tone, South Africa managed to nab a handful of wickets. But, there was no stopping the Indians from claiming the easy win as Shreyas Iyer thumped one down the ground for four and secured India the win in just 12 overs.