Asian Teams To Win A Test Match In Cape Town

Asian Teams To Win A Test Match In Cape Town

A test match in Cape Town, South Africa is always full of challenges and hurdles of a bouncy pitch. All teams based in Asia arrived at the venue but could never breach the line to defeat the hosts.

On the 4th of January 2024, India became the first Asian team to win a test match in the unbeatable venue of Cape Town. Surprisingly, the match lasted four and a half sessions and ended within two days due to the hard bouncy conditions. After winning the toss, Proteas skipper Dean Elgar elected to bat in his farewell test match, and a horrendous bowling display of 6/15 from MD Siraj helped India to bowl the hosts out for a mere 55 runs. India made a decent score of 153 runs in the first innings led by Virat Kohli’s 46 and took a lead of 98 runs.

South Africa tried to put on a fighting show again in the 2nd innings but could accumulate 176 runs only and it was possible because of the tremendous century by opener Aidan Makram (106 off 103 balls). From the Indian contingent, Jasprit Bumrah wreaked havoc on the African batting unit with his 6 for 61. It was Bumrah’s 2nd fifer at the venue. Therefore, the Men in Blue only needed 79 runs to win.

Coming for the chase, Yashasi Jaiswal and Skipper Rohit Sharma began attacking from the very first ball and went past the score in 12 overs and 7 wickets in hand. This triumph will be cherished forever as India scripted history by becoming the first team from Asia to win a test in Cape Town. This India vs South Africa test match also became the shortest test match ever in terms of balls bowled (642 balls, 107 overs).

Hyderabad pace sensation, Mohammed Siraj was adjudged the Man of the Match for his fiery bowling, taking 7 wickets in total. including a fifer in the past innings.