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ZIMBABWE shattered the record for the highest total in T20 cricket yesterday when they ran up a total of 344 for 4 against Gambia in the men’s T20 World Cup Africa sub-regional qualifier tournament.
Sikandar Raza spearheaded the effort with a century, Zimbabwe’s first one ever in the format, off just 33 balls.
He eventually finished unbeaten on 133, with 15 sixes.
His team-mates hit 12 more to set that record as well.
Nepal had been the holders of the highest total (314) and the most sixes hit in an innings (26).
Gambia were bundled out for 54 as Zimbabwe posted the biggest-ever win (in terms of runs) in T20s.
The Ruaraka Sports Club Ground in Nairobi witnessed history yesterday with Zimbabwe, showing great intent right from the first ball they faced, brought up fifty in 3.2 overs.
Tadiwanashe Marumani brought his up quicker, in just 13 balls.
The team hundred was up before the powerplay was done and from there on it was an exercise of how far they could send the ball into the stands.
There were 57 boundaries in the innings overall – which is also a T20 record – with four Zimbabwe batters contributing fifty-plus scores – another record.
Brian Bennett made 50 of 26 and Clive Mandande got to 53 off 17 by hitting the final ball of the innings for six.
Raza, though, was the star of the show.
He came into bat at the end of the seventh over, after the fielding restrictions had been relaxed, but it made no difference.
He struck the third ball he faced for six and went on a run-scoring spree that made him the owner of the second-fastest century in T20I cricket.
His 33-ball effort equalled Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton’s, for Namibia against Nepal in February 2024. – ESPNCricinfo
Online Reporter