Zimbabwe one win from T20 World Cup as Kenya semi-final awaits

vimbayi makwavarara
Oct 1
2 min read

HARARE – The battle for Africa’s two spots at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 moves into the semi-finals on Thursday, with Zimbabwe facing Kenya and Namibia taking on Tanzania in Harare.

The eight-team qualifying tournament, held at Harare Sports Club and Takashinga Cricket Club, has seen Zimbabwe and Namibia dominate their groups, both advancing unbeaten.

Tanzania and Kenya progressed as runners-up after edging their rivals in tight contests.

Thursday’s winners will meet in Saturday’s final and, crucially, secure Africa’s two berths at the 2026 global event, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

The remaining teams will compete in classification playoffs, with the tournament concluding on Saturday.

This Tuesday morning, Brian Bennett and Brad Evans starred as Zimbabwe thrashed Tanzania by 113 runs at Harare Sports Club, capping a perfect record in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier 2025 group matches.

Bennett struck a maiden T20I century, scoring 111 and becoming, at 21 years, the youngest cricketer in the world to record hundreds across all three formats, while Evans wreaked havoc with the ball, taking four wickets for just 16 runs.

Tanzania won the toss and elected to field, but Zimbabwe raced to a commanding total.

Bennett (pictured) hit two fours in the opening over and three more came off the second, including two from Tadiwanashe Marumani.

He reached his fifty off just 29 balls, helping Zimbabwe reach 100 in the 11th over.

The opening pair put on 138 in 13 overs before Marumani was trapped lbw by Laksh Bakrania for 49 off 34 balls.

Captain Sikandar Raza joined the attack with a quick 19 off nine balls before falling to Ally Kimote, leaving Zimbabwe on 169 for two in the 16th over.

Bennett completed his century off 54 balls in the next over, with Ryan Burl at the other end.

He was eventually caught off Kimote in the 19th over for 111 from 60 deliveries, laced with two sixes and 15 fours.

Zimbabwe lost two quick wickets in the final over, with Burl caught for 22 and Tony Munyonga bowled for four.

Dion Myers finished the innings with a six off his only ball, leaving Zimbabwe at 221 for five.

Tashinga Musekiwa remained unbeaten on four.

For Tanzania, Arun Yadav was bowled by Richard Ngarava on the final ball of the first over after hitting a four.

Abhik Patwa and Ajith Augustin nudged the score to 28 before Ngarava had Augustin caught for nine.

Evans then ran through the middle order, dismissing Amal Rajeevan, Mukesh Maker and Ivan Selimani cheaply.

Patwa top-scored with 32 off 22 balls before being caught off Tinotenda Maposa.

Evans wrapped up his four-wicket haul by bowling Kimote for a duck, leaving Tanzania seven down for 63.

A brief partnership between captain Kassim Nassoro (25) and Sivaraj Selvaraj (20) took the score to 101 before Raza and Burl finished the innings, bowling Tanzania out for 108.