Zimbabwe create history, smash 344/4 against Gambia to register highest ever T20I total

Published at :October 23, 2024 at 7:14 PM

Modified at :October 23, 2024 at 7:14 PM

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza slammed a brutal century to lead his side to a total of 344.

Zimbabwe shattered Nepal’s record to create a new highest T20I total as they posted 344/4 against Gambia in their clash in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa Qualifier Group B, 2024.

This is a tournament that is being in Nairobi between six teams. The other four teams are Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda and the Seychelles.

The teams are competing to reach the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be played in India and Sri Lanka. The top two sides from this competition will progress to the regional final to be joined by Namibia and Uganda.

On Wednesday, at the Ruaraka Sports Club Ground, Nairobi, Zimbabwe created the world record for the highest T20I team total of 344 runs against Gambia, who are placed 95th in the ICC T20I team rankings. This was made possible through captain Sikandar Raza’s thunderous century.

They broke the previous record of 314/3, made by Nepal against Mongolia in the Asian Games 2023 in China.

Batting first, openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani gave their side a strong start with their opening partnership of 98 runs off only 5.4 overs. However, they suffered a slip-up, losing four wickets between overs six and 14, although they had crossed 200 by then.

A stunning assault on the Gambia bowlers then came from captain Raza, who walloped seven fours and 15 sixes in his sensational innings of 133* off 43 balls.

In the last six overs, Zimbabwe whacked 134 runs. The last four overs went for 102 runs, including a 35-run over

Highest team totals in T20I cricket:

Team	Score	Overs	RR	Opposition	Ground	Match Date
Zimbabwe	344/4	20.0	17.20	Gambia	Nairobi	23 Oct 2024
Nepal	314/3	20.0	15.70	Mongolia	Hangzhou	27 Sep 2023
India	297/6	20.0	14.85	Bangladesh	Hyderabad	12 Oct 2024
Zimbabwe	286/5	20.0	14.30	Seychelles	Nairobi (Gym)	19 Oct 2024
Afghanistan	278/3	20.0	13.90	Ireland	Dehradun	23 Feb 2019
Czech Republic	278/4	20.0	13.90	Turkey	Ilfov County	30 Aug 2019
Malaysia	268/4	20.0	13.40	Thailand	Hangzhou	2 Oct 2023
England	267/3	20.0	13.35	West Indies	Tarouba	19 Dec 2023
Australia	263/3	20.0	13.15	Sri Lanka	Pallekele	6 Sep 2016
Sri Lanka	260/6	20.0	13.00	Kenya	Johannesburg	14 Sep 2007
India	260/5	20.0	13.00	Sri Lanka	Indore	22 Dec 2017

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