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Brandon Moyo
FOR a country with so much cricketing heritage, the Chevrons were not meant to be playing in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Africa Qualifier B which came to an end in Nairobi, Kenya on Wednesday.
Zimbabwe became the first full member to partake in such a tournament as they sought to book their spot in the big boys’ league. The tournament was the first step towards qualification for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
However, despite playing against literal cricketing minnows, Justin Sammons’ men managed to make their presence felt. Throughout the tournament, records were shattered. At the centre of it, was none other than Zimbabwe’s finest, Sikandar Raza.
The 38-year-old Chevrons’ T20I skipper rose to the occasion on Wednesday as Zimbabwe broke a number of individual and team records against the Gambia in a massive win. History was made in Nairobi.
A day after becoming the first Zimbabwean to pick up a five-wicket haul in T20Is, Raza followed it up with a fine performance with the bat which saw him become the first, again, from the country to score a century in the game’s shortest version.
He helped Zimbabwe score the highest-ever score in T20Is. Zimbabwe shattered the record for the highest total in not just T20Is but 20-over cricket as a whole when they made 344/4 against Gambia.
Raza spearheaded the effort with a century off just 33 balls. He eventually finished unbeaten on 133, with 15 sixes. His team-mates hit 12 more (sixes) to set that record as well. Until the massacre on Wednesday, Nepal had been the holders of the highest total (314) and the most sixes hit in an innings (26).
Gambia in return were bundled out for 54 as Zimbabwe also posted the biggest-ever win (in terms of runs) in T20s. The Chevrons showed intent from the first ball having won the toss and elected to bat first.
Zimbabwe brought up 50 in just 3.2 overs. Tadiwanashe Marumani brought his half century quicker, in just 13 balls which is the quickest for Zimbabwe and the joint third fastest in the world.
The team hundred was up before the power play 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 off 26 and Clive Mandande got to 53 off 17 by hitting the final ball of the innings for six.
The four- fifty plus score is another record in T20Is for the most in an innings.
Raza came in to 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 T20Is. His 33-ball effort equalled Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton’s, for Namibia against Nepal in February 2024.
Raza was deservingly named player of the match for the second time in a row. He now has the most Player of the Match awards in men’s T20Is (17)
As it was raining runs in Nairobi, Gambia now has the record of the most bowlers conceding 50+ runs in a men’s T20 innings.
Zimbabwe and the hosts, Kenya have qualified for the regional finals.
Online Reporter