Last Updated: November 27, 2023, 21:15 IST
Sikandar Raza is the primary Zimbabwean to assert a T20I hat-trick. (AFP Photo)
Zimbabwe allrounder Sikandar Raza had a memorable outing towards Rwanda on Monday.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza stepped up with the bat and the ball to style a massive 144-run win for his facet of their essential ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier 2023 contest with Rwanda on Monday.
Raza scored a quickfire fifty to propel his workforce to a mammoth whole of 215/4 on the Wanderers Cricket Ground in Windhoek earlier than turning into the primary Zimbabwean to take a T20I hat-trick as Rwanda have been skittled for a mere 71 in 18.4 overs.
Thanks to his all-round present, Raza was picked because the player-of-the-match.
He thus drew stage with India famous person Virat Kohli for having probably the most variety of player-of-the-match awards – each have now received it six instances every.
Raza struck 36-ball 58 whereas opening the innings for Zimbabwe and with Tadiwanashe Marumani (50 off 31) laid a superb platform for Ryan Burl to blaze away within the slog overs as he belted an unbeaten 21-ball 44.
Rwanda misplaced their first wicket on the primary ball of the chase of 216 and by no means recovered. Raza ended their distress claiming the final three wickets in as many deliveries to complete with figures of three/3 from 2.4 overs.
It was simply the efficiency Zimbabwe wanted after a horror of a begin to their hopes of qualifying for the 2024 T20 World Cup to be co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies.
Zimbabwe misplaced to Namibia of their marketing campaign opener earlier than bouncing again with a nine-wicket thrashing of Tanzania.
However, they have been surprised by an unfancied Uganda who stormed to a five-wicket win leaving Zimbabwe in a precarious spot.
The large win has boosted their internet run-rate although and retains them within the hunt of sealing a qualification berth for the T20I showpiece subsequent yr.
Seven groups are participating within the regional qualifiers and solely top-two groups will make the lower. As of now, Namibia are the frontrunners to advance because of their 4 wins out of 4 matches that sees them sitting fairly on the high spot.
Uganda and Kenya are second and third respectively whereas Zimbabwe are fourth.
