If a team in a test match manages to take the wicket of the rival team in the shortest span possible, they register a historic win in the history of test cricket. Test matches are known for the spectacular performance of batters and bowlers. However, the glory of the game enhances if the bowling attack overshadows the performance of batters in the rival team.
The article below brings to you such top 10 shortest completed innings by balls in test cricket.
1. South Africa Vs England
South Africa faced England in Birmingham on 14 June 1924. England batted first and scored 438 runs in the first innings and South Africa scored 30 runs in their first innings in 75 balls and 390 runs in the second innings. The England team won the match by an innings and 18 runs. Arthur Gilligan took six wickets.
2. England Vs Australia
England faced Australia in Melbourne on 1 January 1902. Australia batted first and scored 112 runs and 353 runs in the consecutive innings. In return to which England got out on 61 runs in the first innings playing 94 balls and 175 runs in the second innings resulting in Australia winning the game by 229 runs. Monty Noble took 13 wickets in the game.
3. Ireland Vs England
Ireland played Against England in Lord's on 24 July 2019. The English team batted first and scored 85 runs and 303 runs in both innings. Ireland scored 207 and 38 runs in 94 balls in the respective innings. The England team won the match by 143 runs and Jack Leach was declared man of the match for scoring 92 runs.
4. Australia Vs England
Australia played against England in Brisbane on 4 December 1936. England played good cricket in this game and scored 358 and 256 runs in the respective innings. Australia started well and scored 234 runs in the first innings but their batting order shattered in the second innings and they scored 58 runs in 99 balls and lost the test match by 322 runs. Gubby Allen took five wickets in that inning.
5. India Vs England
The Indian team played against the English team in Lord's on 20 June 1974. England batted first and scored 629 runs and declared the innings. India scored 302 runs in the first innings and 42 runs playing 102 balls in the second innings. The England team won by an innings and 285 runs and Chris Old took nine wickets.
6. Australia Vs South Africa
Cape Town hosted this match on 9 November 2011. Australia came to bat first and scored 284 runs in the first innings and 47 runs in the second innings facing 108 balls. South Africa won that match by eight wickets scoring 96 runs in the first innings and 236 runs in the second innings. Vernon Philander was the player of the match for taking eight wickets in the game.
7. Australia Vs England
Australia played against England on 6 August 2015 in Nottingham. Australia scored just 60 runs in the first innings playing 111 balls and 253 runs in the second innings. The England team won the match by an innings and 78 runs scoring 391 runs. Stuart Broad took nine eight wickets in that inning which destroyed the Australian batting line-up.
8. Bangladesh Vs West Indies
Bangladesh scored 43 runs playing 112 balls against West Indies in the first innings and 144 runs in the second innings. This match happened in North Sound on 4 July 2018. West Indies scored 406 runs and won the match by an innings and 219 runs. Kemar Roach took five wickets and scored 33 runs and was the man of the match.
9. Bangladesh Vs South Africa
Bangladesh played 114 balls and got out on 53 runs in their second innings on 31 March 2022 in Durban. Their first innings score was 298 runs. South Africa scored 367 and 204 runs in their innings and won the game by 220 runs. Keshav Maharaj took seven wickets giving 32 runs.
10. England Vs West Indies
England played against West Indies on 25 March 1994 in Port of Spain. West Indies batted first and scored 252 runs in the first innings and 269 runs in the second innings. 328 runs were scored by England in their first innings and they got all out on 46 runs playing 115 balls. Curtly Ambrose helped West Indies for winning the match by 147 runs by taking 11 wickets in the match.
