Zimbabwe rewrote T20I history by scoring 344-4 against The Gambia on October 23, 2024, surpassing the previous record of 314 runs. The match featured explosive batting performances, most notably from Sikandar Raza, who scored an unbeaten 133 off 43 balls. Zimbabwe’s innings included a remarkable 27 sixes and 30 fours, solidifying their dominance in the T20 World Cup qualifiers.
On October 23, 2024, Zimbabwe established a new world record for the highest team score in a men’s T20 International (T20I), amassing an impressive 344 runs for the loss of four wickets against The Gambia during a T20 World Cup qualifier at the Ruaraka Sports Club Ground in Nairobi, Kenya. The match began with Zimbabwe winning the toss and opting to bat first. Openers Tadiwanashe Marumani and Brian Bennett delivered an explosive start, scoring 49 runs within the first three overs and reaching 92 runs by the end of five overs. Marumani’s vigorous innings concluded in the sixth over when he was dismissed by Andre Jarju, having scored 62 runs off 19 balls. By the end of the Powerplay, Zimbabwe’s score stood at 102 for one. Dion Myers, batting at No. 3, continued building on the foundation laid by Marumani, and after Bennett contributed with his 50 runs in the 10th over, the score had escalated to 143 runs. At the halfway point of the innings, Zimbabwe had amassed 150 runs for the loss of one wicket. The situation for The Gambia deteriorated further when Zimbabwean captain Sikandar Raza, who joined the crease in the seventh over, partnered effectively with left-handed batsman Ryan Burl. Their collaboration propelled Zimbabwe past the 200-run mark in just 12.5 overs, having scored their last 50 runs in a mere 17 balls. Raza reached his half-century in the 15th over, requiring only 20 balls to achieve this milestone. After this over, the total was 228 for four, with Zimbabwe positioning themselves to exceed the previous T20I record of 314. Zimbabwe did not just approach that record; they shattered it spectacularly. The 17th over alone yielded a staggering 35 runs, during which Raza launched four sixes and two fours. He brought up his century in just 33 balls in the 18th over, marking Zimbabwe’s place as the second team to score over 300 runs in a men’s T20I. The final overs saw Zimbabwe gather 18 runs in the penultimate over, concluding their innings with a remarkable total of 344 runs. Raza finished unbeaten with 133 runs from 43 balls, which included seven fours and 15 sixes. In total, Zimbabwe managed an incredible 27 sixes and 30 fours in their innings. Notably, Bennett had the lowest strike rate among his teammates, at 192.3, scoring 50 runs off 26 balls. In stark contrast, The Gambia’s bowling attack struggled significantly, highlighted by Andre Jarju, who, despite being the most economical bowler, conceded runs at over 13 runs per over. Musa Jobarteh, on the other hand, recorded a dismal statistic, yielding 93 runs in his four overs at an alarming rate of 23.25 runs per over.
The T20 World Cup qualifiers are crucial tournaments that provide teams with an opportunity to compete for a place in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. In this particular qualifying round, Zimbabwe faced The Gambia and Seychelles as part of Group B. Zimbabwe’s powerful performance against The Gambia not only signifies their dominance in this qualifier but sets a landmark achievement in T20I cricket history by surpassing the previously established highest total.
In conclusion, Zimbabwe’s record-breaking achievement of scoring 344 runs against The Gambia in a T20 World Cup qualifier has etched their name in T20I history, showcasing their batting prowess and setting a challenging benchmark for future teams. The match is a testament to cricket’s unpredictable nature and the potential for incredible feats within the sport.
Original Source: www.wisden.com
