Highest team totals in T20I cricket: Sikandar Raza became Zimbabwe’s first-ever T20I centurion and helped his side post the highest total in the shortest international format as they smashed 344 runs against Gambia in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa Qualifier Group B, 2024.
In Nairobi, Zimbabwe shattered Nepal’s record of 314 runs on the back of a splendid 33-ball century from their captain Raza. Nepal had made this total against Mongolia in the Asian Games 2023 in China.
Batting first against Gambia, who are ranked 95th in ICC Men’s team T20I rankings, Zimbabwe got off to a flying start from their openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani, who forged an opening stand of 98 runs in only 5.4 overs. Bennett scored 50 (26) and Marumani scored 62 runs off only 19 balls.
While they lost three quick wickets, Zimbabwe’s captain Sikandar Raza was in now and had started to flay the Gambia bowlers. Raza didn’t waste any time and got into the act of demolishing the bowlers straightaway.
He kept getting more dangerous as his innings progressed and raised his century in 33 balls, the second-fastest hundred in T20Is. He eventually finished with 133* off 43, walloping 7 fours and 15 sixes in his innings, taking his team to a mammoth total of 344 runs, the highest in T20Is.
In the chase, Gambia, which is the smallest country in continental Africa, were bowled out for only 54 runs, with only one batsman getting into double digits.Richard Ngarava and Brandon Mavuta picked up three wickets each.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa Qualifier Group B, 2024, is a pathway tournament for teams to qualify for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka. It is being played between six teams. Apart from Zimbabwe and Gambia, the other four nations are Kenya, Rwanda, Mozambique, and the Seychelles. The top two team from this tournament will progress to the regional final, where they will be joined by Namibia and Uganda.
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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