Sikandar achieves major milestone

Agency :

Zimbabwe Captain Sikandar Raza on Sunday reached a major milestone during their final Super Eights match of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Raza played a fighting knock of 73 off 43 balls, featuring eight boundaries and four sixes, and surpassed the 3,000-run mark in T20I cricket.

He became the first Zimbabwean and 14th overall player to achieve this feat.

He is now Zimbabwe’s highest run-scorer in the T20 format. Ryan Burl ranks second with 1,948 runs in 118 matches, while Raza leads with 3,065 runs in 133 matches at a strike rate of 136.83, including 17 fifties and one century.

The 39-year-old also holds the record for the most fifties by a Zimbabwean batter in T20Is. Raza leads with 17 fifties, followed by Bennett and Williams with 12 each, and Masakadza with 11.

Batting first, South Africa posted 153-7 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to an outstanding innings by Sikandar Raza. The Chevrons got off to a strong start, scoring 13 runs in the opening over.

However, wicketkeeper-batter Tadiwanashe Marumani was dismissed on the second delivery of the second over by Kwena Maphaka, finishing with run-a-ball seven, including one boundary.

Anrich Nortje then claimed the wicket of Brian Bennett, who struggled to maintain momentum, scoring 15 off 13 deliveries, which included one four and one six.

Dion Myers and Raza steadied the innings with a valuable partnership, helping South Africa surpass the 50-run mark.

Ryan Burl and Tony Munyonga were next to fall, dismissed by Lungi Ngidi and Corbin Bosch respectively, after scoring five and two runs.

Set batter Sikandar Raza eventually fell for a brilliant 73 off 43 balls, featuring eight fours and four sixes, leaving South Africa at 126-6 in 16.3 overs.

Bosch picked up his second wicket by removing Brad Evans, who scored 8 off 11 deliveries, including one six. The innings concluded with Clive Madande unbeaten on 26 off 20 balls, supported by three fours.