South Africa finish 4-day Test against Zimbabwe in 2 days; enter record books

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
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
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.