List Of The 5 Shortest Test Matches In Cricket History: India vs. South Africa

India’s win against South Africa in the second Test match played in Cape Town on Thursday set many records, the most significant of which being that it was the shortest Test match ever played, lasting just 642 balls.

Mohammed Siraj’s outstanding six-wicket haul saw South Africa bowled out for 55 at the start of the encounter. The Proteas, however, made a comeback and bowled out India for 153, taking six wickets in 11 deliveries without conceding any runs. Later, Jasprit Bumrah emerged as India’s savior, taking six wickets to dismiss the Proteas for a meager 176. The objective was subsequently reached by Team India in only 12 overs with seven wickets remaining.

Here are the five shortest matches in the 147-year history of Test cricket to result in a winner.

India against. South Africa, 2024, 642 balls

Ever since Australia and England met in Melbourne in 1877, 2,522 Test matches have been played, including the one at Newlands. It was the shortest as well.

On the first day, South Africa lost 23 wickets and were bowled out for only 55 before lunch after choosing to bat first. After losing their last six wickets for only six runs, India was eventually dismissed for 153.

In the second innings, the Proteas played a somewhat better match thanks to a fantastic century from Aiden Markram. However, India scored a quick seven wickets to win the match in only 107 overs.

Australia against. South Africa, 1935, 656 balls

The previous record-holding match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground included South Africa as well, who were dismissed for a combined total of 81 in their two innings.

South Africa was skittled again for 45 in the second innings after being all out for 36 in the first in 23.2 overs, with Bert Ironmonger delivering statistics of five wickets for six runs.

Surprisingly, Australia triumphed by an innings and 72 runs against a team that was bowled for only 153 at Newlands, exactly the same as India.

England against. West Indies, 1935, 672 balls

The only batters to reach forty were George Headley and Wally Hammond, as England defeated the West Indies four wickets to one in January 1935 in Bridgetown. It was an odd encounter, with both sides announcing their intentions to take advantage of the bowler-friendly conditions.

In their first innings, England declared on 81-7, eager to get the West Indies back into the game on a ground that was quickly losing its quality after bowling out the host team for 102.

Following suit, the West Indies declared at 51-6 in 19 overs, giving England 75 to win.

After England put their lower order in first to receive the new ball, Hammond, who scored 43 in the first innings, in at number seven and guided them home with a crucial 29 without losing.

Australia against. England, 1888, 788 balls

In the 1888 Ashes, England defeated Australia in an innings at Old Trafford thanks to a high score of 38 by WG Grace.

England scored 172 in a reasonable first day, but Australia replied with 32-2.

Rainfall throughout the night on the untended field, which was exposed to the Manchester heat, created an opening for left-arm spinner Bobby Peel. Peel thoroughly destroyed the Australians, tearing them apart with scores of 7-31 and 4-37 before they were bowled out for 81 and 70.

Australia vs. England, 1888, 792 balls

Six weeks before, Australia had defeated England by 61 runs at Lord’s, with 27 wickets falling on the second day of the match—a record for the most wickets in a single Test cricket match.

The Australians took advantage of a wet and spicy wicket, after scoring 116 in their first innings, to dismiss England for a mere 53 runs.

Their own answer, which amounted to only 60, was not much better. However, Charlie Turner claimed his second five-wicket haul of the game to dismiss England for only 62 runs in 47 four-ball overs, with Grace again topping the board with 24 runs. England was never close to reaching the 124-run goal.