In a historic turn of events, the India vs South Africa 2nd Test match at the Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town, has etched its name in the cricket records as the shortest Test match in history. The thrilling encounter, dominated by Indian pacers, concluded in just 5 sessions, breaking several unwanted records along the way.
Pacers Power India to Victory:
The star of the match was undoubtedly Mohammed Siraj, whose furious pace led the Indian pacers to dismantle South Africa’s formidable batting order. The match saw a total of 642 deliveries, making it the briefest Test match in the cricket chronicles. This feat surpassed the previous record set in 1932, where Australia defeated South Africa in a match that saw 656 balls bowled.
Historic Day 1 Frenzy:
The intensity of the match was evident from the very first day, as both teams completed their first innings, and South Africa lost three wickets in their second innings. A staggering 23 wickets fell on the opening day, marking only the second instance in Test cricket history. The last time such a wicket-fall frenzy occurred was in 1902 during a match between Australia and England at the Melbourne ground, where 25 wickets tumbled on Day 1.
Unwanted Records Galore:
Adding to the drama, India experienced a sudden collapse during their first innings, losing 6 wickets in just 11 balls without scoring a single run. This unfortunate event placed India in the “elite” club of records, having faced similar debacles seven times before.
Rohit Sharma Reflects on Victory:
Expressing his satisfaction, Team India skipper Rohit Sharma acknowledged the team’s recovery from the Centurion defeat. Sharma emphasized the importance of learning from mistakes and credited the bowlers for their precision. “When you come to this part of the world, it’s always difficult, but we take pride in our performance outside of India,” Sharma added.
In conclusion, the India vs South Africa 2nd Test will be remembered not only for its brevity but also for the stellar performance of the Indian pacers and the resilience shown by the team. Cricket enthusiasts around the world are left in awe of this historic clash, eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the ongoing series.
