Cape Town: The second game between India and South Africa became the shortest-ever completed Test match (in terms of ball bowled) in cricket history. The Test match finished in two days and just 107 overs (642 balls).
The Men in Blue defeated Dean Elgar-led South Africa by seven wickets at Newlands Cricket Stadium in Cape Town on Thursday. Notably, India also became the Asian first team to win a Test match at the picturesque venue. This was also India's first Test win at the venue as they finally breached the Fortress Newlands.
Since the start of international cricket, from 1882 to 1946, only 15 test matches have ended inside two days. However, since 2000, there have been 10 red-ball matches which finished in two days. England's Leeds, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, Zimbabwe's Harare, India's Ahmedabad and Bengaluru, Australia's Brisbane and South Africa's Cape Town (2), and Port Elizabeth have witnessed two-day Tests in the last 24 years.
This was also the third time India were involved in a two-day Test, with the other two being their match against Afghanistan in Bengaluru in 2018 and against England at Ahmedabad in 2021.
With this win, the Rohit Sharma-led side became the only second Indian side to level the Test series against South Africa in the Rainbow Nation. Earlier, in 2013, Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side levelled the series against South Africa.
List of Test matches ending in two days (barring the India versus South Africa Test, Cape Town, 2024):
* England vs Australia, Oval, 1882
It was the ninth Test match in history. Australia were bundled out for 63 but managed to limit England to 101 in their first innings with Fred 'Demon' Spofforth taking seven wickets. The Aussies could only muster 122 with Hugh Massie scoring a 55. England were again humbled by 'Demon' despite WG Grace's 32. Spofforth took seven for 44 as Englishmen were ousted for 77 and conceded a seven-run defeat.
* England vs Australia, Lord's, 1888
Australia made 116 and 60 in two innings and then shot out England for 53 and 62 at the 'Home of Cricket' to achieve a 61-run victory.
* England vs Australia, Oval, 1888
This time, England managed to turn the tables on Australia with an innings and 137-run win inside two days. Australia were bowled out for 80 and 100 while the hosts piled up 317 in their lone innings.
* England vs Australia, Manchester, 1888
Batting first, England made 172 with WG Grace top-scoring with a 38 and Australia failed to touch 100 in both their innings, getting dismissed for 81 and 70 to fall to an innings and 21-run defeat.
* South Africa vs England, Port Elizabeth, 1889
Cricket finally reached a new shore apart from England and Australia. At Port Elizabeth, SA made 84 and 129 and England replied with 148 and 67 for 2 for an eight-wicket victory.
* South Africa vs England, Cape Town, 1889
The second match of the series too ended inside two days. England batted first and only once making 292 with Bobby Abel striking a 120. Johnny Briggs shattered Proteas with figures of 7 for 17 and 8 for 11 as the hosts were fired out for 47 and 43 in England's innings and 202-run win.
* England vs Australia, Oval, 1890
Aussies made 92 and 102 and England made 100 and 95 for eight to scrape home by two wickets in two days.
* South Africa vs England, Port Elizabeth, 1896
England made 185 and 226 and then skittled out SA for 93 and 30 as fast bowler George Lohmann had astonishing figures of eight for seven off 9.4 overs. England won by 288 runs.
* South Africa vs England, Cape Town, 1896
Arthur Hill made 124 as England replied to SA's first-innings total of 115 with 265. The tourists then curtailed SA's second innings for 117 to celebrate an innings and 33-run victory.