The International Cricket Council has rated the Newlands pitch that hosted the test match between South Africa as 'unsatisfactory'. The second match of the Gandhi-Mandela series, which was played on June 3 and June 4, lasted only 107 overs—the shortest-ever completed match played in the history of the format.
The decision was made by the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process after ICC Match Referee Chris Broad submitted his report, expressing the concerns of the match officials. Following this, a pitch in Cape Town’s Newlands was classified as ‘unsatisfactory’.
"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, as per a release by the ICC.
The ICC has awarded one demerit point to Newlands in the game, which India won with a few hiccups in batting.
In the match, South Africa was bundled out for 55 in the first innings as Siraj stunned with 6/15. In response, India took a 98-run lead with a total score of 153 runs. after losing its last six wickets without adding any runs.
In the second inning, Aiden Markram eyed a comeback for South Africa with a ton; however, he did not garner much support from other batters. India chased the 79-run target to win the match by seven wickets, hence drawing the two-match test series.
A demerit point is credited to venues whose pitches and outfields are rated by the match referee as unsatisfactory. If a venue accumulates six and 12 demerit points within a period of five matches, it is suspended from hosting any international cricket match for 12 months and 24 months, respectively, according to the ICC.
Cricket South Africa has 14 days to appeal against the ICC’s decision.
