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28-year-old Rwanda opener Hamza Khan on May 24 scripted history in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa Qualifier Group A 2026 clash with second-highest individual score in T20I cricket history. Hamza smashed 15 sixes and nine fours in his unbeaten 164 off just 65 balls. Rwanda posted 288/2 on the board and then bundled out Ivory Coast for mere 17 runs in 15.2 overs. Rwanda won by 271 runs, the third-highest win in T20I history as per run margin.
Hamza surpassed Afghanistan's Hazratullah Zazai to take the second spot. Zazai had scored an unbeaten 162 off 62 balls against Ireland in 2019. The top spot belongs to Australia's T20 World Cup 2021-winning captain Aaron Finch. The former Aussie opener had scored 172 runs from 76 balls against Zimbabwe in 2018. In overall T20s (including domestic cricket and T20 franchise cricket), Hamza's unbeaten 164 is the third-highest individual score. West Indies' Chris Gayle is on top with an unbeaten 175 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) against now-defunct Pune Warriors India in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2013.
Hamza made his T20I debut in October 2023 against Nigeria. On May 24, he scored his maiden T20I century. Earlier, his highest T20I score was 75-run knock which came against Sierra Leone in December 2025.
Hamza wreaks havoc
Earlier, Hamza broke free in the fourth over, hitting Kouakou Wilfried for three sixes. In the sixth over, he reached his half-century from just 16 deliveries. His opening partner Didier Ndikubwimana attacked as well but comparatively batted in a conservative manner, playing second fiddle to Hamza. In the 12th over, Didier reached his half-century from 34 balls. On the other end, Hamza was batting on 98 off 35 deliveries. In the 14th over, Hamza reached his century from 41 deliveries.
The opening partnership was broken by Kone Aziz in the 15th over. Dider fell for a 45-ball 69. They shared a 196-run partnership. In the slog overs, Hamza continued to find boundaries. In the penultimate over, he hit Dje Claude for two consecutive sixes to reach his 150 from 58 balls. In the final over, Hamza hit one century. Wilfried ended the innings with Isae Niyomugabo's wicket. He contributed with a 12-ball 26 cameo.
Multiple maiden overs, Test match-like approach
In the run chase of 289, Ivory Coast opener Ouattara Mohamed played a maiden over. In the second over, Aziz got bowled for a three-ball duck whereas Mohamed was run out for an eight-ball duck. In the powerplay overs, Ivory Coast managed to score just seven runs for the loss of three wickets. It was followed by three consecutive maiden overs. At halfway stage, Ivory Coast were 8/3. The Test match-like partnership was broken by Emile Rukiriza. Wilfried managed to score two runs from 31 deliveries. In the next over, Maiga Ibrahim was caught and bowled by Yves Cyusa for a 22-ball 4. The wickets kept falling and Ivory Coast were bowled out for 17, losing the match by 271 runs. Wicketkeeper-batter Ouattara Issouf was their top run-scorer. He scored five runs from four deliveries before getting run out. Muhammad Nadir and Cyusa claimed three wickets each.
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