In an electrifying T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa Qualifier match against Gambia, Zimbabwe made history by posting a staggering 344/4, the highest total ever recorded in a T20 international. This record-breaking feat took place at the Ruaraka Sports Club Ground in Nairobi on Wednesday.
Captain Sikandar Raza stole the show with a phenomenal 133 off just 43 deliveries, propelling Zimbabwe to shatter the previous record for the highest T20I total by a Test nation. Raza’s innings also etched his name in the history books as Zimbabwe’s first T20I centurion and the first Zimbabwean to score centuries in all three formats.
Zimbabwe’s innings was marked by a flurry of sixes, smashing 27 maximums to surpass Nepal’s previous record of 26 sixes against Mongolia in 2023. Prior to this, Nepal held the record for the highest T20I total with 314, also set against Mongolia. Zimbabwe’s explosive batting not only rewrote the record books but also underlined their dominance in the qualifiers.
India previously held the record for the highest T20I total by a full-member nation, scoring 297/6 against Bangladesh in Hyderabad. However, Zimbabwe’s towering total now sits at the top of the leaderboard, a landmark achievement in the world of cricket.