Nabil Master Sets Historic T20I Bowling Record

Botswana fast bowler Nabil Master produced a record-breaking performance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier by taking 6 wickets for just 2 runs against Mali in Gaborone.

The match, held in Botswana’s capital, saw Nabil complete his spell in only 2.4 overs. His figures of 6 for 2 are now the most economical bowling returns for a bowler taking at least six wickets in men’s international T20 cricket.

Before this performance, the record for the most economical bowling in a comparable spell belonged to Singapore leg-spinner Harsha Bharadwaj. In September 2024, Bharadwaj took 5 wickets for 3 runs, including two maiden overs, against Mongolia in a four-over spell. Nabil surpassed that benchmark while also bowling one maiden over.

Record Bowling Figures

Nabil made his international debut for Botswana in 2019 and claimed only one wicket in his first two T20 internationals that year. After several years away from international cricket, he returned last Saturday and took two wickets. That meant he had collected only three wickets from his first three international appearances before this match.

Against Mali, however, he became the first bowler in Botswana’s T20 international history to take six wickets in a match. The spell also moved him into fourth place on the all-time list of best bowling figures in men’s T20 internationals.

Nabil entered the attack in the sixth over of Mali’s innings and began with a maiden over. Before he returned for his second over in the eighth, Mali had reached 18 for 4. He struck with the first ball of that over and then dismissed two more batters in the same over to trigger a collapse.

He returned in the tenth over and claimed another three wickets to finish the innings. Mali were bowled out for 25 in 9.4 overs, while Botswana completed the chase in only 2.2 overs without losing a wicket, sealing a 10-wicket victory.

An unusual aspect of Nabil’s spell was that all six wickets came in pairs on consecutive deliveries. He took wickets with the first two balls of the eighth over, then dismissed another batter with the final delivery of the same over. Returning in the tenth over, he struck again with the first ball before taking wickets with the third and fourth deliveries of the over.

Match Summary: Botswana vs Mali

Earlier in the day, Rwanda faced Ivory Coast in another qualifier match in Gaborone. Rwanda posted 288 for 2 after opener Hamza Khan scored an unbeaten 164 from 65 balls.

The innings is now the highest individual score by a player from an associate nation in men’s T20 internationals. Hamza surpassed the previous record held by Spain’s Mohammad Ihsan, who scored 160 from 63 balls against Croatia in December last year.

Considering all men’s T20 internationals, including full-member nations, Hamza’s 164 is now the second-highest individual score in the format. The overall record remains with former Australia captain Aaron Finch, who scored 172 against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2018.

Ivory Coast were unable to challenge Rwanda’s total and were dismissed for 17 in 15.2 overs, giving Rwanda a 271-run victory.

Hamza Khan’s Record Innings