India achieved the fastest win in Test cricket history to even out their series against South Africa during the second afternoon in Cape Town.

The travelers successfully pursued a target of 79 runs in the fourth inning within 12 overs at Newlands, finishing a match that was originally planned to end on Sunday evening in just 642 balls.

This resulted in the quickest Test victory ever recorded based on the number of deliveries bowled, reducing the previous record by 14. The previous record was set in 1932 when South Africa lost to Australia in Melbourne. In approximately four sessions of cricket, a wicket fell on average less than every 20 balls.

South Africa’s retiring captain Dean Elgar described it as “a tough one for us, we were positive coming into the game, but the first innings with the bat … India bowled well and used the conditions to a tee.

The wicket was deceivingly difficult, initially appearing favorable but ultimately proving challenging. Despite my choice to bat first, our opponents displayed superior skill in the first session.

There are bound to be inquiries about the condition of the pitch, as authorities will determine whether the unusually short match was caused by poor batting or a subpar surface. Rohit Sharma, the captain of India, suggested that there should be a reevaluation of how pitches are evaluated, given that India has faced unwarranted backlash in home Tests.

Rohit stated that the conditions during the four-and-a-half sessions were unpredictable and included both variable bounce and sideways movement. He acknowledged that these conditions could be risky, but also expressed that he was comfortable playing on such surfaces as long as it was acknowledged that Indian pitches tend to turn from the first day.

Rohit stated that he doesn’t have a problem playing on similar pitches, as long as there is no discussion about the pitches in India. He acknowledged the risk involved but also emphasized the importance of challenging oneself and facing it head on.

“In India, upon the start of day one, it is often remarked, ‘Oh, there is a cloud of dust.’ It is important for match referees to remain unbiased. I am curious to see how the pitches are evaluated. I am still surprised that the pitch for the World Cup final in Ahmedabad was considered below standard.”

On the first day, the Proteas were able to score only 55 runs, but in the second round, they were able to improve to a total of 176 thanks to a commendable performance from Aiden Markram, who scored 106 runs despite facing difficult circumstances. However, with no other players putting up a fight, Jasprit Bumrah took six wickets for 61 runs. After the break, India wasted no time in chasing down the target.

Source: theguardian.com