Nabil Master produced a world-record spell in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier after the Botswana national cricket team pacer took 6 wickets for just 2 runs against Mali national cricket team in Gaborone.
Nabil bowled only 2.4 overs and broke the men’s international T20 record for the fewest runs conceded while taking at least six wickets. The previous benchmark belonged to Singapore leg-spinner Harsha Bharadwaj, who claimed 5 for 3 against Mongolia in September 2024.
The Botswana quick entered the attack in the sixth over and started with a maiden. Mali reached 18 for 4 before Nabil returned in the eighth over and ripped through the innings. He struck with the first two balls of that over, added another wicket on the final delivery, then returned in the 10th over to take three more wickets.
All six dismissals arrived in pairs across consecutive deliveries. Mali collapsed for 25 in 9.4 overs. Botswana chased the target in only 2.2 overs without losing a wicket.
The performance marked a sharp rise for Nabil, who made his international debut in 2019. He managed only three wickets across his first three T20 internationals before producing the best bowling figures in Botswana’s T20 history.
Earlier in Gaborone, Hamza Khan smashed an unbeaten 164 from 65 balls as Rwanda national cricket team piled up 288 for 2 against Ivory Coast national cricket team.
Hamza set the highest individual score among associate nations in men’s T20 internationals. He moved past Spain batter Mohammad Ihsan, who hit 160 against Croatia last year.
Only Aaron Finch has scored more in a men’s T20 international. The former Australia captain blasted 172 against Zimbabwe in 2018.
Ivory Coast collapsed for 17 in 15.2 overs as Rwanda sealed a crushing 271-run victory.
