NEW DELHI: India successfully chased down a modest target of 79 runs to secure a seven-wicket win against South Africa in the second Test at Newlands on Thursday. This victory, which concluded within five sessions, helped India level the two-match series 1-1.
With this win, India became the first team from Asia to register a victory at Newlands. Overall, this was India's fifth Test win on South African soil.
Needing 79 to win, Shreyas Iyer stood tall and smashed Marco Jansen over mid-on for a boundary to seal the game for India.
1/9:Five shortest Tests in history: India's record-breaking victory
ANI
2/9:India's Historic Victory
India's victory in the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town broke many records, most notably becoming the shortest completed Test match in the history of the game, lasting just 642 balls.PTI
3/9:1. Shortest Match in Test Cricket
The match at Newlands was the 2,522nd Test to be played since England met Australia in Melbourne in 1877. It was also the shortest.PTI
4/9:2. Previous Shortest Test Match
South Africa were also participants in the match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1932 that previously held the record as they were dismissed for a combined total of 81 across their two innings.Getty Images
5/9:3. Bridgetown Test in 1935
England secured a four-wicket win over the West Indies in January 1935 in Bridgetown in a slightly bizarre game where both sides made tactical declarations to try and make the most of the bowler-friendly conditions.Agencies
6/9:4. Old Trafford Test in 1888
WG Grace top-scored with 38 as England caught Australia on a sticky track at Old Trafford to claim an innings victory in the 1888 Ashes.Agencies
7/9:5. Lord's Test in 1888
Just six weeks earlier the boot was on the other foot as Australia beat England by 61 runs at Lord's, 27 wickets falling on the second day, which remains a record for most wickets in a single day's Test cricket.Getty Images
8/9:Record-breaking Day 1 in Cape Town
Twenty-three wickets fell on the opening day as South Africa, who elected to bat first, were shot out before lunch for just 55. India were then dismissed for 153, losing their last six wickets for zero runs.PTI
9/9:Aiden Markram' Brilliant Century
The Proteas fared marginally better in the second dig with Aiden Markram scoring a brilliant century. But India knocked off the runs for a seven-wicket win, the match lasting just 107 overs.AFPAfter the win, Virat Kohli, who was excitedly waiting in the dressing room, hugged head coach Rahul Dravid.
Young batsmen Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal were also seen exulting after India's Cape Town triumph.
BCCI's social media handle on Friday posted a video capturing India's historic win on South African soil.
"Starting the New Year with a historic Test win at Newlands," BCCI's X handle (formerly Twitter) wrote while posting the video.
WATCH:
India ended their second innings on 80 for three as they launched an assault to try and negate a difficult wicket that was still helping the bowlers.
Only 642 legitimate deliveries were bowled across four-plus sessions. The previous shortest Test — 656 balls— was in 1932 at Melbourne between Australia and South Africa.
