Zimbabwe smashes 17 runs and overs to break records in T20 World Cup qualifying defeat | cricket

Sikandar Raza smashed an unbeaten 133 in 43 balls as Zimbabwe posted a record innings score of 344-4 in their Africa sub-regional T20 World Cup qualifier against Gambia. Zimbabwe then beat Gambia to secure their biggest win in the format on Wednesday.

Raza hit 15 sixes in Nairobi to score his maiden T20I century and take Zimbabwe to a new high score in 20 overs, surpassing Nepal’s previous record of 314-3 against Mongolia last year.

Zimbabwe bowled out Gambia for 54 in 14.4 overs and secured victory by 290 runs, again surpassing Nepal’s previous record winning margin of 273 against Mongolia. Chevrons’ 27 sixes in the innings are also a record, one ahead of Nepal.

Raza reached his century off 33 deliveries and is the first Zimbabwean player to achieve a feat in an international game of this format.

Openers Brian Bennett (50) and Tadiwanashe Marumani (62) scored 98 off 34 balls for the first wicket before Raza and Clive Madande (53 not out) scored an unbeaten 141 in 40 deliveries for the fifth wicket.

No bowler was spared but seamer Musa Jobarteh conceded 93 from his four overs, an unwanted T20 record. The previous worst figures were 0-82 in four overs by leg-break bowler Matthew McKiernan for Derbyshire against Somerset in 2022.

Zimbabwe are hoping to advance to the next phase of Africa’s qualifiers for the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will take place in India and Sri Lanka.

Earlier on Wednesday, Canterbury opener Chad Bowes broke the record for the fastest double century in men’s List A matches, achieving his double ton in 103 balls against Otago in New Zealand.