India thwart Proteas inside two days to record shortest Test match with result

Jasprit Bumrah Indias priceless fast bowling mean machine produced a hostile spell to guide India to a serieslevelling sevenwicket victory against South Africa in the shortest game ever played in Test historyBumrah 661 in 135 overs the master practitioner of fast bowling knocked the stuffing out of South Africas middleorder in a menacing morning spell though Aiden Markram 106 off 103 balls fought like a lone ranger on a burning deck to take South Africa to 176 in 365 overs at stroke of lunch on day two of the SA vs IND 2nd TestA target of 79 even on the toughest of tracks wasnt exactly a tall order and young Yashasvi Jaiswal 28 threw his bat around before skipper Rohit Sharma 16 not out completed the formalities in the company of Shreyas Iyer 4 not out off 6 in just 12 oversThis was Indias first victory at Newlands in seven attempts and one that would be remembered for the hostility exhibited by two Indian fast bowlers Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj who produced a careerbest sixwicket haul to bowl out South Africa for 55 in the first inningsAlso ReadThank you WarnerThe serieslevelling win gave Rohit the bragging rights of being only the second skipper after Mahendra Singh Dhoni 201011 to draw a series in the Rainbow NationHowever South Africa remains an unconquered territory for India who have not been able to win a Test series in the countryIt was the shortest Test match ever in terms of overs bowled bettering the previous best that involved Australia and South Africa at the MCG way back in 1932A total of 1062 overs were bowled in the SA vs IND 2nd Test while 1092 overs were bowled in that 1932match which Australia won Eeerily South Africas first innings had lasted for 232 overs just like this gameIt would be surprising if the Newlands Stadium track doesnt receive a Below Average rating from ICC match referee Chris BroadIn fact South African batting consultant and former national skipper Ashwell Prince had termed it as the fastest Day 1 track he has even seen at this venue but what worried him was the inconsistent bounce on offerAs a venue Newlands host body West Province Cricket Association is bleeding financially and one and a half day game is basically a loss making event for itSkipper Rohit wont mind winning his first Test as a skipper in a SENA country but more importantly the decisions he took was a reflection of his leadership acumenPlaying Mukesh Kumar 4 wickets in place of Shardul Thakur was a good move and also making the bowlers realise the ideal length to bowl after the goof up in CenturionThe way Bumrah and Siraj read the pitch in the first essay was an example how the current generation doesnt throw in the towel after a debilitating defeatOn Thursday the ball didnt fly off the surface as much as it did on the opening day but with enough juice available to get movement off the surface Bumrah from his back of length approach in the first essay reverted to a more traditional fuller length deliveries to set the alarm bells ringing for the ProteasThis was his ninth fivewicket haul in Test cricketSensing that he could soon run out of partners once David Bedingham 11 edged one behind the stumps and Kyle Verreynne misjudged the length while going for an unnecessary pullshot Markram started attacking the inexperienced Mukesh Kumar 256 in 10 overs and the everprofligate Prasidh Krishna 127 in 4 oversMarkram found it easy to muscle the balls through the gaps as he hit 17 fours and two mighty sixes off PrasidhIn the morning a vintage Bumrah was in full bloom on a tailormade surfaceStarting at 62 for 3 South Africa quickly lost their middleorder to be 111 for 7 before Markram took charge in a 51run stand with Kagiso Rabada where he launched into every Indian bowlerIt finally took first innings hero Siraj 131 to induce a mistimed heave from Markram ensuring the lead did not cross 100run markWith agency inputs