South Africa Coach's Bold "More Luck Than Skill" Remark As India Win 2nd Test In 1.5 Days

05.01.2024 - 11:35 sports.ndtv.com

South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad Thursday termed the Newlands surface on which the shortest Test match in the history of the game was played as "not great" and where sheer luck trumped pure skill.

India beat South Africa by seven wickets in a match that was played for just 106.2 overs and ended in a day and a little over one session. "I don't know what people want me to say.

You only need to look at the scores. 1.5-day Test match! You need to look at how they chased 80 (79). Sad state when you need more luck than skill.

All the ethics and values of Test cricket goes out the window," Conrad, a former Western Province cricketer, lashed out after the series ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

cricket South Africa Cricket Team India Cricket Team cape town South Africa vs India Remark Test 1 as Aiden Markram South Africa India province Western

India registered a series-levelling seven-wicket victory against South Africa in the shortest game ever played in Test history. The match could not last for even two days despite both the sides coming to bat twice on the surface of Newlands, Cape Town -- the venue for the game. With the pitch offering additional bounce to pacers, all the batters, barring Virat Kohli and Aiden Markram, failed to impress. South Africa were bundled out for 55 runs in the first session while India were bowled out for 153 in reply.

India vs South Africa: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli's DRS Discussion In Second Test Has Internet In Splits For 'Wrong' Language

With just one wicket to go and three reviews remaining, the Indian cricket team decided to make use of their resources, although knowing that the result was unlikely to come in their favour. Mohammed Siraj hit South Africa's Nandre Burger high on the right right, on Day 2 of the second Test at Cape Town, but the umpire had little interest in rewarding Team India's appeal. However, realising that India have three DRS calls to spare, Rohit contemplated going for a review, after a brief discussion with teammates, but eventually decided against taking it.

Watch: Rohit Sharma's Animated Reaction After Taking Aiden Markram's Catch In Second Test vs South Africa

Emotions were heavily invested during the Indian cricket team's second and final Test match against South Africa at Newlands, Capetown. The guests suffered an innings-and-32-run drubbing in the first Test match in Centurion and this was their only chance to make up for it with a series-levelling win. Team India came with added energy and went on to win the game by 7 wickets that too within two days. What the win meant for the side was clearly visible when India skipper Rohit Sharma vented out his frustration with an animated celebration after taking the catch of Aiden Markram. The wicket more or less made sure that India had to chase a paltry total.

India vs South Africa: Kevin Pietersen Explains How 3rd Test Can Be Played Without Flight Delay

Following India's win over South Africa in the second Test that lasted for just 1.5 days, former England batter Kevin Pietersen poked fun at the match's duration, saying that there is enough time to play a series decider at Cape Town in order to have a true winner in this series. Bumrah's second-inning six-wicket haul made all the difference as, despite Aiden Markram's ton, South Africa could set only 79 for India to wrap up this Test in around 1.5 days, which India chased down successfully.

"Can't Handle The...": Anand Mahindra's Epic Comment On 2-Day India vs South Africa Test Viral

For the first time in 23 years, India have drawn a Test series in South Africa. It happened in a dramatic situation as the Indian cricket team won the second Test of the two-match series in less than five sessions. Only 107 overs were played as it became the shortest ever match in the format's history. Right from Day 1 dramatic scenes started unravelling in Cape Town as 23 wickets fell. First South Africa got dismissed for 55, then India were bowled out for 153. After South Africa score 176 in the second innings, the match ended in the second session of the second day with India supassing the 79-run target with seven wickets to spare.

Updated World Test Championship Points Table: India Jump To Top Spot With Win Over South Africa, Pakistan Slip To...

The Indian cricket team on Thursday capped off the tour to South Africa with a seven-wicket win in the second Test match and sqaured the series 1-1. It was a match that belonged to Indian pacers Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, who picked 15 wickets among themselves. In the first innings, Siraj picked 6 for 15 while Bumrah scalped two wickets. In the following innings of South Africa, Bumrah returned figures of 6 for 61 while Siraj also picked one wicket.