Wed Oct 23 15:18:29 UTC 2024: In a stunning display at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa Qualifier, Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza led his team to a record-breaking score of 344 runs against Group B opponents on October 23 at Ruaraka Sports Club, Nairobi. Key highlights include:
– **Sikandar Raza’s Performance**: Raza scored an explosive 133 runs from 43 balls, marking his first T20I century and achieving it in just 33 balls, the joint second-fastest in T20 history. His innings featured 7 fours and 15 sixes, tying him for the joint third-highest number of sixes in a T20I innings.
– **Team Milestones**: Zimbabwe’s 344/4 shattered Nepal’s previous record of 314/3 for the highest team score in T20, set during the 2023 Asian Games.
– **Opening Partnership**: Openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani got the innings off to a fiery start, scoring 98 runs in just 34 balls, with Marumani notching a 13-ball fifty, the joint third-fastest in T20.
– **Contributions from Other Players**: Marumani scored 62 off 19 balls, while Bennett contributed 50 off 25. The partnership continued with Ryan Burl, adding 60 runs before his dismissal.
– **Finishing Strong**: Raza accelerated in the later overs, especially the 17th, scoring 35 runs off Musa Jobarteh. He reached his hundred right after, and Clive Madande also recorded his maiden T20I fifty at the end of the innings.
– **Records Set**: Zimbabwe achieved the most sixes in a T20I innings with 27 sixes, surpassing Nepal’s record of 26, and matched Sri Lanka for the most fours in a T20I innings with 30.
This remarkable performance not only highlights Raza’s exceptional skills but also sets a new standard for T20 batting.
First Piper 