Zimbabwe, who beat eventual runners-up Pakistan in last year’s T20 World Cup in Australia, face an uphill battle to secure qualification this time around having lost to Namibia and Uganda in two of their opening three matches. Only two teams advance from the Africa Qualifier and with Namibia sitting pretty at the top of the table with four wins from four, realistically, Zimbabwe are in a three-team shootout with Uganda and Kenya for the second spot.

Zimbabwe’s hopes of making amends for their poor start to the Qualifier were boosted by their victory over Rwanda today (November 27). Raza’s side piled on 215-4 from their 20 overs thanks to half-centuries from Raza himself and Tadiwanashe Marumani as well as a rapid 21-ball 44 from Ryan Burl at the death. Rwanda never got close in the run chase eventually folding for 71 all out to hand Zimbabwe a Net Run Rate boosting 144-run win.

The game was sealed by Raza who claimed the final three wickets of the game from consecutive deliveries. It was the first hat-trick recorded by a Zimbabwe bowler in men’s T20I cricket.

The win boosts Zimbabwe’s chances of qualifying for next year’s T20 World Cup. It takes them to third place in the table with two wins from four games, though at the time of writing Uganda in fourth have a game in hand. Should Uganda win their three remaining games against Nigeria, Kenya and Rwanda they would qualify ahead of Zimbabwe. Kenya also have qualification in their hands; they have lost one game so far (against Namibia) and are yet to face qualification rivals Zimbabwe and Uganda. Should teams finish level on points, Zimbabwe, despite their two defeats, have by far the most competitive Net Run Rate among the teams vying for second place.

You can watch Sikandar Raza’s hat-trick below:

 

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