NEW DELHI: The second Test between India and South Africa in Cape Town on Thursday has created a unique record as it became the shortest completed game ever in the history of Test cricket.
The match lasted for just four and a half sessions and finished inside two days with India (153 & 80/3) defeating South Africa (55 & 176) by 7 wickets to share the two-Test series 1-1. India lost the first Test by an innings and 32 runs in Centurion which also lasted for three days.
India also became the first Asian side to win a Test in Cape Town. It was the 25th instance when a Test match ended inside two days, dating back to 1882.
This is the shortest completed Test match ever in terms of overs bowled (642 balls - 107 overs), bettering the previous best (656 balls - 109.2 overs) that involved Australia and South Africa at the MCG way back in 1932.
This also marked the third occasion where Team India was part of a two-day Test match. The previous instances were against Afghanistan in Bengaluru in 2018 and against England in Ahmedabad in 2021.
Shortest completed Test matches (by balls bowled)- 642 - SA vs IND, Cape Town, 2024
- 656 - AUS vs SA, Melbourne, 1932
- 672 - WI vs ENG, Bridgetown, 1935
- 788 - ENG vs AUS, Manchester, 1888
- 792 - ENG vs AUS, Lord’s, 1888
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