In a display of sheer batting brilliance, Zimbabwe smashed the record for the highest team total in a T20 International, amassing a monumental 344/4 against Gambia in the T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa Qualifier Group B match. The match, played at the Ruaraka Sports Club Ground in Nairobi on Wednesday, witnessed an onslaught of power hitting from the Zimbabwean batsmen, led by their captain, Sikandar Raza.
Raza, in a breathtaking performance, smashed 133 runs off a mere 43 balls, propelling Zimbabwe to a score that dwarfed the previous record held by Nepal. Nepal had set the previous high of 314 against Mongolia in the Asian Games held in Hangzhou earlier this year.
The Zimbabwean innings was a symphony of big hits, with the team smashing a record-breaking 27 sixes in total, surpassing Nepal’s previous record of 26 sixes. This onslaught of power hitting left the Gambian bowlers bewildered and the crowd in awe.
Raza’s innings was not only a record-breaking feat, but also a landmark achievement for the Zimbabwean batsman. He became the first Zimbabwean to score a century in a T20 International, adding his name to the elite list of T20 century makers. This feat also makes him the first Zimbabwean to score centuries in all three formats of the game, cementing his position as a complete batsman.
Zimbabwe’s dominance in the match is a testament to their batting depth and power hitting prowess. They have emphatically announced their arrival on the international stage and will be a formidable force in the upcoming tournaments.