ICC Gives 'Unsatisfactory' Rating To Newlands Pitch Which Produced 'Shortest Test' Ever

IND vs SA, Cape Town Test: Newlands pitch produced a match which lasted just 642 legal balls. Consequently, it has been rated "unsatisfactory" under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process.

Dean Elgar and Rohit Sharma at the toss on Day 1 of the second IND vs SA Test at the Newlands Cricket Ground in South Africa.

Source : Getty

Cape Town: The International Cricket Council (ICC) rated the pitch at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town which produced the shortest-ever Test match as "unsatisfactory" under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process. The rating comes after submission of an official report from the ICC Match Referee Chris Broad. Captains Dean Elgar and Rohit Sharma were also consulted. The verdict means that the venue willl receive one demerit point.

"The pitch in Newlands was very difficult to bat on. The ball bounced quickly and sometimes alarmingly throughout the match, making it difficult to play shots. Several batters were hit on the gloves and many wickets also fell due to the awkward bounce," Broad said in an official statement.

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IND vs SA 2nd Test Lasted Only 642 Legal Deliveries

For the unversed, the IND vs SA second Test match at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town lasted only 642 legal deliveries. While it was the Proteas who won the toss and elected to bat first, right-arm pacer Mohammed Siraj delivered a spell to be remember for the ages, scalping 6 wickets for 15 runs to bundle out South Africa for the lowest total by an opposition ever against India, bowling the entire team out for 55 in 23.2 overs.



In response, India were 153/4 at one stage but then the visitors lost their last six wickets for 0 runs in a bizarre instance on the cricket field to get all out in 34.5 Overs. South Africa put on a better effort with the bat in the second innings, making 176 in in 36.5 overs with Aiden Markram scoring a brilliant century. India, however, reached to their target of 79 runs with 7 wickets in hand in 12 overs.