Zimbabwe sets new T20 record with 344 for 4 against Bangladesh

Zimbabwe made history in T20 cricket on Wednesday by scoring a record-breaking total of 344 for 4 against Gambia in the men's T20 World Cup Africa sub-regional qualifier tournament. Sikandar Raza led the charge with a century, the first ever by a Zimbabwean in the format, achieved in just 33 balls. His innings ended on an unbeaten 133, including an impressive 15 sixes. The rest of the team contributed with 12 more sixes, setting a new record for the most sixes hit in an innings. Previously, Nepal held the record for the highest total (314) and the most sixes in an innings (26).

The Ruaraka Sports Club Ground in Nairobi witnessed history on Wednesday with Zimbabwe showing great intent right from the first ball they faced. They 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.

Gambia, which is the smallest country in continental Africa, located to the west, could do very little to stop the run flow. Musa Jorbateh conceded the most runs by a bowler in a T20, his four overs going for 93. He was one of five bowlers to go for over 50 runs or more in their spell. The team is still looking for its first win in the Africa sub-regional qualifier so far, having given walkovers to their opponents Rwanda and Seychelles in the first two games, while Zimbabwe have already picked up three from three.