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In a dazzling display of skill and determination, star-allrounder Sikandar Raza etched his name into the annals of cricket history by becoming the first Zimbabwean cricketer to take a hat-trick in T20 Internationals.
Raza achieved the feat during the 13th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifier 2023, where Zimbabwe showcased sheer dominance over Rwanda at Wanderers Cricket Ground to register a comprehensive victory.
Zimbabwe’s commanding performance
Asked to bat first, Zimbabwe batted exceptionally well, posting a formidable total of 215/4 in their allotted 20 overs. Raza emerged as the star performer with a dynamic innings of 58 runs off 36 balls, embellished with six fours and four sixes. Alongside him, Tadiwanashe Marumani contributed significantly, scoring 50 runs off 31 balls. Rwanda’s bowlers struggled to contain the onslaught, with Emmanuel Sebareme being the most successful, claiming two wickets for 34 runs.
Sikandar Raza’s all-round brilliance
Raza’s contribution was not limited to his explosive batting. The star all-rounder then turned heads with a sensational hat-trick during Rwanda’s innings. In a complete display of dominance, Zimbabwe bowled out Rwanda for a mere 71 runs in 18.4 overs.
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Raza’s sensational hat-trick
With figures of 3 wickets for just 3 runs in 2.4 overs, Raza emerged as the pick of the bowlers. What made this feat even more remarkable was that he became the first Zimbabwean to take a hat-trick in the T20Is. The official Instagram handle of the ICC even shared the video of the historic moment on their page.
Here’s the video:
Zimbabwe’s victory and T20 World Cup qualification scenario
Zimbabwe convincingly won the match by 144 runs, showcasing their prowess with both bat and ball. However, despite this triumph and Raza’s historic performance, Zimbabwe currently occupies the fourth spot in the T20 World Cup qualifier points table with four points and securing a spot in the T20 World Cup will require them favourable results in upcoming matches.
