• Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza bagged a brilliant hat-trick during the 13th match of the T20 World Cup qualifier against Rwanda.

  • Raza became the first Zimbabwe cricketer to achieve the feat in T20Is.

WATCH: Sikandar Raza creates history by becoming the first Zimbabwe cricketer to take hat-trick in T20Is – ZIM vs RWA, T20 World Cup Qualifier
Sikandar Raza creates history by becoming the first Zimbabwe cricketer to take hat-trick in T20Is (Image Source: Twitter)

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.

Also READ: Here’s why Australian cricketers didn’t receive the traditional welcome back home after ODI World Cup 2023 triumph

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.

Also READ: Aakash Chopra rings alarm bells to RCB’s tactic of releasing star bowlers ahead of IPL 2024 auction

Subscribe to Cricket Times on YouTube to watch Exclusive Interviews, Podcasts, Daily News Updates & Explainers.

TAGS:

CATEGORY: Sikandar Raza T20 World Cup

For latest cricket news and updates, subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter.

About the Author:
Vishwanath Hariharan is Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. From breaking news stories to in-depth features and opinion pieces, he has covered a wide range of topics. Vishwanath is very fond of watching cricket. Like many others, he too grew up watching, playing, and imitating his favourite players of the game. MS Dhoni is like a demigod to him. You can connect with him at vishwanath.hariharan@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter & Linkedin.