Zimbabwe Sets T20 World Record with Dominant Performance Against Gambia

Zimbabwe rewrote the T20 cricket record books on Wednesday by amassing a staggering total of 344 for 4 against the Gambia in the Men’s T20 World Cup Africa sub-regional qualifier. Sikandar Raza led the charge with a blistering century—the first-ever for Zimbabwe in T20 internationals—reaching 133 not out off just 33 balls, including 15 sixes. His teammates added 12 more sixes, breaking the record for most sixes in an innings. Nepal had previously held the record for both the highest total (314) and most sixes in an innings (26). Gambia, in response, were bowled out for 54, as Zimbabwe recorded the largest-ever margin of victory in T20 history by runs.

The Ruaraka Sports Club Ground in Nairobi was the site of this historic display, where Zimbabwe came out with aggressive intent from the first ball. They reached fifty within just 3.2 overs, with Tadiwanashe Marumani hitting his fifty in a rapid 13 balls. Zimbabwe crossed the hundred-run mark before the powerplay ended, turning the rest of the innings into a boundary-hitting masterclass. A total of 57 boundaries were struck, another T20 record, with four Zimbabwean batters scoring fifty-plus—also a new achievement. Brian Bennett contributed 50 from 26 balls, and Clive Mandande smashed 53 off just 17 balls, finishing the innings with a six.

However, Raza was the standout performer, entering the seventh over after field restrictions were lifted, but that didn’t slow him down. He hit his third ball for six and went on to blast the second-fastest century in T20I history, equalling Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton’s 33-ball effort for Namibia against Nepal in February 2024.

Gambia, the smallest country in mainland Africa, struggled to contain the Zimbabwean onslaught. Musa Jorbateh set an unwanted record, conceding the most runs by a bowler in a T20, with his four overs going for 93. He was one of five bowlers who gave away 50 or more runs in their spell. Gambia, still searching for their first win in the tournament, had already given walkovers to Rwanda and Seychelles, while Zimbabwe remained unbeaten, winning all four of their matches.