Nairobi: In a remarkable display of cricketing prowess, Zimbabwe shattered several records during their T20 World Cup 2026 qualifier match against Gambia on Wednesday.
Highest T20I total ever
Zimbabwe posted a staggering 344/4 in 20 overs, setting a new world record for the highest total in a T20I, surpassing Nepal’s 314/3 against Mongolia at the Asian Games in 2023. Sikandar Raza led the charge with an unbeaten 133 from just 43 balls. Contributions from Brian Bennett (50 off 26), Tadiwanashe Marumani (62 off 19), and Clive Madande (53* off 17) bolstered Zimbabwe’s innings.
Sikandar Raza’s milestone achievements
Raza’s explosive innings included 7 fours and 15 sixes, making him Zimbabwe’s first T20I centurion. His 133* also marked the joint-second-fastest century in T20Is. With 118 of his runs coming through boundaries, Raza broke his own record for most sixes in a T20I innings by a Zimbabwean and surpassed Virat Kohli’s record for the most ‘Man of the Match’ awards in T20Is, with 17 accolades.
Record-breaking victory margin
Zimbabwe bowled out Gambia for a mere 54 runs, securing a historic 290-run victory, the largest margin of victory in a T20I match.
Most boundaries in a T20I innings
The Zimbabwean batsmen smashed 30 fours and 27 sixes, totalling 57 boundaries, the highest in any T20I innings. The 27 sixes also set a new record for the most hit by a team in a T20I.
Gambia’s unwanted records
Gambia’s bowlers faced the brunt of Zimbabwe’s onslaught, with Musa Jobarteh conceding 93 runs in four overs, the most by a bowler in a T20I innings. Additionally, five Gambia bowlers each conceded 50 or more runs, another unwanted T20I record.
