Records tumble as Zimbabwe decimate Seychelles

Zimbabwe: 286/5 in 20 overs (Brian Bennett 91, Tadiwanashe Marumani 86; Jobayer Hossen 2-36)

Seychelles: 18/2 in 6.1 overs (Tim Horpinitch 8; Richard Ngarava 1-1)

Result: Zimbabwe won by 76 runs (DLS method)

Zimbabwe smashed a few records in an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
Qualifier B rain-affected match at the Gymkhana Club Ground in Nairobi.

They made their highest-ever T20I score (286 to beat their old 236 record) and Brian Bennett became the fastest to a half-century, achieving it in 17 balls. The previous record was 20 balls by Malcolm Waller.

Bennett headlined the innings with an explosive 91 off just 35 balls, including eight fours and seven sixes, at an astonishing 260 strike rate.

On the other end, Tadiwanashe Marumani struck 86 off 37 balls with ten boundaries and five sixes.

The opening pair put on 145 for the opening wicket.

Skipper Sikandar Raza played a swift cameo, contributing 36 runs off 13 balls with a strike rate of 276.92, while Ryan Burl and Wessly Madhevere chipped in with 23 and 13 runs, respectively.

Tashinga Musekiwa took his debut in stride. He smashed 12 off his four balls in international cricket.

The Seychelles bowlers struggled to contain the onslaught, with Jobayer Hossen, the pick of the bowlers, claiming two wickets for 36 runs in his four overs.

Raza employed spin to get the first five overs out of the way to constitute a full match. He bowled three overs while Wellington Masakadza took two from the other end.

Richard Ngarava took the first ball for the quicks and got a wicket off his first ball.

Seychelles could only muster 18/2 before rain brought the game to an abrupt halt.