 "India vs South Africa 2nd Test proves shortest long-format match in history")
It took less than five sessions and 642 balls to decide the India vs South Africa 2nd Test winner at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town on Thursday, January 04, 2024. India emerged victorious by 7 wickets after bowling South Africa out for 55 and 176 runs in two innings. This was the shortest match played in the history of Test cricket.
India broke the 91-year-old record and suprisingly it was South Africa that time also who ended up on the losing side. Only 656 balls were bowled in the Australia vs South Africa Test match as the Kangaroos emerged victorious after bowling South Africa out for a mere 36 in the first session.
India broke the 91-year-old record and suprisingly it was South Africa that time also who ended up on the losing side. Only 656 balls were bowled in the Australia vs South Africa Test match as the Kangaroos emerged victorious after bowling South Africa out for a mere 36 in the first session.
| Balls faced by both teams in IND vs SA 2nd test | ||||
| Team | Innings | Overs | Balls | Runs |
| South Africa | 1st | 23.2 | 140 | 55 |
| India | 1st | 34.5 | 209 | 153 |
| South Africa | 2nd | 36.5 | 221 | 176 |
| India | 2nd | 12 | 72 | 80-3 |
Shortest Test match in history by balls
- 2024- India vs South Africa, Cape Town (642 balls)
- 1932 Australia vs South Africa, Melbourne (656 balls bowled)
- 2021- India vs England Ahmedabad (842 balls)
- 1935 West Indies vs England, Bridgetown (672 balls bowled)
- 1888 England vs Australia, Lord's (792 balls bowled)
- 1888 England vs Australia, Manchester (788 balls bowled)
- 1889 South Africa vs England, Cape Town (796 balls bowled)
- 1912 England vs South Africa, The Oval (815 balls bowled)
- 2000 South Africa vs England, Centurion (883 balls bowled)
- 2002 Australia vs Pakistan, Sharjah (893 balls bowled)
- 1946 Australia vs New Zealand, Wellington (872 balls bowled)
Shortest Test match in history by days
| Shortest matches (by days) | |||||
| Team 1 | Team 2 | Days | Winner | Ground | Match Date |
| South Africa | India | 2 | India | Cape Town | 4 Aug 2024 |
| England | West Indies | 2 | England | Leeds | 17 Aug 2000 |
| Australia | Pakistan | 2 | Australia | Sharjah | 11 Oct 2002 |
| South Africa | Zimbabwe | 2 | South Africa | Cape Town | 4 Mar 2005 |
| Zimbabwe | New Zealand | 2 | New Zealand | Harare | 7 Aug 2005 |
| South Africa | Zimbabwe | 2 | South Africa | Gqeberha | 26 Dec 2017 |
| India | Afghanistan | 2 | India | Bengaluru | 14 Jun 2018 |
| India | England | 2 | India | Ahmedabad | 24 Feb 2021 |
| Afghanistan | Zimbabwe | 2 | Zimbabwe | Abu Dhabi | 2 Mar 2021 |
| Australia | South Africa | 2 | Australia | Brisbane | 17 Dec 2022 |
| England | Australia | 2 | Australia | The Oval | 28 Aug 1882 |
| England | Australia | 2 | Australia | Lord's | 16 Jul 1888 |
| England | Australia | 2 | England | The Oval | 13 Aug 1888 |
| England | Australia | 2 | England | Manchester | 30 Aug 1888 |
| South Africa | England | 2 | England | Gqeberha | 12 Mar 1889 |
| South Africa | England | 2 | England | Cape Town | 25 Mar 1889 |
| England | Australia | 2 | England | The Oval | 11 Aug 1890 |
| South Africa | England | 2 | England | Gqeberha | 13 Feb 1896 |
| South Africa | England | 2 | England | Cape Town | 21 Mar 1896 |
| Australia | South Africa | 2 | Australia | Manchester | 27 May 1912 |
| England | South Africa | 2 | England | The Oval | 12 Aug 1912 |
| England | Australia | 2 | Australia | Nottingham | 28 May 1921 |
| Australia | West Indies | 2 | Australia | Melbourne | 13 Feb 1931 |
| South Africa | Australia | 2 | Australia | Johannesburg | 15 Feb 1936 |
| New Zealand | Australia | 2 | Australia | Wellington | 29 Mar 1946 |
Most wickets on Day 1 of a Test match
| Most wickets on Day 1 | |||
| Wickets | Match | Venue | Year |
| 25 | AUS vs ENG | Melbourne | 1902 |
| 23 | SA vs IND | Cape Town | 2024 |
| 22 | ENG vs AUS | The Oval | 1890 |
| 22 | AUS vs WI | Adelaide | 1951 |
| 21 | SA vs ENG | Gqeberha | 1896 |
| 20 | ENG vs AUS | The Oval | 1882 |
| 20 | AUS vs ENG | Melbourne | 1892 |
| 20 | ENG vsSA | Leeds | 1907 |
| 20 | SA vs ENG | Gqeberha | 1889 |
| 20 | ENG vs AUS | Manchester | 1909 |
South Africa lowest score in Test history
| Team | Score | Overs | RR | Inns | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
| South Africa | 30 | 18.4x5 | 1.91 | 4 | v England | Gqeberha | 13 Feb 1896 |
| South Africa | 30 | 12.3 | 2.4 | 2 | v England | Birmingham | 14 Jun 1924 |
| South Africa | 35 | 22.4x5 | 1.84 | 4 | v England | Cape Town | 1 Apr 1899 |
| South Africa | 36 | 23.2 | 1.54 | 1 | v Australia | Melbourne | 12 Feb 1932 |
| South Africa | 43 | 28.2x4 | 2.26 | 3 | v England | Cape Town | 25 Mar 1889 |
| South Africa | 45 | 31.3 | 1.42 | 3 | v Australia | Melbourne | 12 Feb 1932 |
| South Africa | 47 | 47.1x4 | 1.49 | 2 | v England | Cape Town | 25 Mar 1889 |
| South Africa | 55 | 23.2 | 2.35 | 1 | v India | Cape Town | 3 Jan 2024 |
| South Africa | 58 | 26.1 | 2.21 | 1 | v England | Lord's | 10 Jun 1912 |
| South Africa | 72 | 50.1x8 | 1.07 | 4 | v England | Cape Town | 1 Jan 1957 |
| South Africa | 72 | 33.4x8 | 1.61 | 4 | v England | Johannesburg | 24 Dec 1956 |
| South Africa | 73 | 28.5 | 2.53 | 4 | v Sri Lanka | Galle | 12 Jul 2018 |
| South Africa | 75 | 44.4 | 1.67 | 4 | v England | Leeds | 29 Jul 1907 |
| South Africa | 79 | 33.1 | 2.38 | 2 | v India | Nagpur | 25 Nov 2015 |
| South Africa | 80 | 32 | 2.5 | 4 | v Australia | Melbourne | 31 Dec 1910 |