Playing their first ever day-night Test at home, which was schuedued to be a 4-day affair, South Africa wrapped up the match inside just 2 days at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth. Zimbabwe, who were playing their maiden day-night Test, were humiliated by the Proteas as they were bowled out for mere 68 and 121 against South Africa who declared at 309-9 in their first innings.
Pacer Morne Morkel lead South Africa’s bowling front during Zimbabwe first innings by taking 5-21, while spinner Keshav Maharaj did the same by scalping 5-59 in their opponent’s second innings.
A total of 907 balls were bowled only throughout this encounter, which makes this match feature in among the shortest Test with a decisive result since Second World War.
Shortest Tests in terms of balls bowled since World War II |
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Home team |
Against |
Balls |
Winner |
Venue |
Match Date |
New Zealand |
Australia |
872 |
Australia |
Wellington |
29-Mar-1946 |
South Africa |
England |
883 |
England |
Centurion |
14-Jan-2000 |
Australia |
Pakistan |
893 |
Australia |
Sharjah |
11-Oct-2002 |
South Africa |
Zimbabwe |
907 |
South Africa |
Port Elizabeth |
26-Dec-2017 |
However, overall, this match will go down in the history as 10th shortest Test and if excluded the forfeited innings by South Africa in the Centurion Test of 2000, then this will be counted as 3rd shortest since World War II.
This is also the shortest Test involving Zimbabwe. Previous shortest Test involving Zimbabwe lasted 940 balls, which also came against South Africa in 2005 at Cape Town.
In addition, this was also the 20th Test which ended with a decisive result inside 2 days and 7th such match played in South Africa.
Shortest Tests played in South Africa in terms of days |
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Team 1 |
Team 2 |
Days |
Winner |
Ground |
Match Date |
South Africa |
England |
2 |
England |
Port Elizabeth |
12 Mar 1889 |
South Africa |
England |
2 |
England |
Cape Town |
25 Mar 1889 |
South Africa |
England |
2 |
England |
Port Elizabeth |
13 Feb 1896 |
South Africa |
England |
2 |
England |
Cape Town |
21 Mar 1896 |
South Africa |
Australia |
2 |
Australia |
Johannesburg |
15-Feb-1936 |
South Africa |
Zimbabwe |
2 |
South Africa |
Cape Town |
04-Mar-2005 |
South Africa |
Zimbabwe |
2 |
South Africa |
Port Elizabeth |
26-Dec-2017 |
Last but not the least, this is the first day-night Test which ended inside 2 days and shortest as well. South Africa will continue their home season by playing a 3-Test series against India, which will start from January 5 at Cape Town. South Africa have never lost a home Test series against India.