The shortest Test between India and South Africa in 2024 (Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x.com)
In the fast-paced, moving cricket world with the unreal T20 thrills, Test cricket is living with its own royalty. Five marathon days of red-ball drama continue to test players' grit while giving fans edge-of-the-seat moments worth every second.
As the cricket world walks on some exceptions, Test cricket experienced some of the out-of-the-box moments. Matches meant to last five days have wrapped up in stunningly abrupt finishes, with the India–South Africa 2024 clash being the perfect example.
In 2024, when India and South Africa met in Cape Town for the second Test, the match went till just 107 overs and created history. Let’s relive the shortest Test match ever.
First-innings drama unfolds at a pace that leaves even ODIs behind
A Test match usually promises slow-burn drama, marathon battles, and unforgettable performances, but every once in a while, the format flips the script. But some tests bring the madness of the limited-overs cricket, and history writes a different script than usual. In 2024, Cape Town witnessed a Test that turned a red-ball spectacle into a white-ball madness.
When India and South Africa locked horns at the iconic venue, fans expected a typical Test match, but the match turned into a historic one. While batting first, the Proteas faced a nightmare on the field as Mohammed Siraj tore through their batting lineup with a spell of 6/15. Adding to this, Jasprit Bumrah and Mukesh Kumar’s domination ended South Africa’s innings in just 55 runs in 24 overs.
India eyed domination, but the Cape Town pitch wrote a different script. After Jaiswal walked away on a duck, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill stitched a 55-run partnership. After their dismissal, Virat Kohli added crucial 46 runs in 59 balls, but the rest of the lineup faltered.
With Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and Nandre Burger securing three wickets each, India ended their innings in just 153 runs in the 35th over. Incredibly, the match moved so fast that even a 50-over game lasts longer; neither side even came close to touching 40 overs in their innings.
Markram’s ton falls short as India prevails in a nail-biting low-scorer
Coming to bat in the second innings, South Africa needed some solid performances to dominate the tourists, but Bumrah shattered the hope. Indian pacers dominated the Protea batting order, but Aiden Markram kept the hope alive. With a blazing 99-ball century, he fought a lone battle and dragged the total to respectability, but with no support from the other end, South Africa folded for just 176.
Chasing the 79-run target, victory seemed closer, but the Protea bowler struck hard even in the limited chances. After a 44-run partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma laid the strong foundation, the glory followed the Men in Blue’s way. After they achieved the target in 12 overs, they registered a seven-wicket victory.
The match, which was expected to be a five-day thriller, ended in only two days. Test cricket usually creates history with heroic knocks, but sometimes chaos steals the show. The Cape Town Test ended in 107 overs, as 642 balls decided the ultimate destiny of the clash.
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