Harare Sports Club is a cricket stadium located in Harare, Zimbabwe. 

Established in 1900, the Harare Sports Club is in the heart of the city and is surrounded by jacaranda trees and with a beautiful gabled pavilion.

Previously known as Salisbury Sports Club until 1982, the Harare Sports Club Ground is bordered by the heavily-guarded presidential palace on one side and the reputable Royal Harare Gold Club on another. 

Harare Sports Club staged its first international cricket match, a Test played between Zimbabwe and India in October 1992. Interestingly, it was Zimbabwe’s first Test in international cricket which later ended in a draw.

Few days later, it hosted its first One-Day International (ODI) game that featured hosts Zimbabwe and India. The Mohammad Azharuddin-led India won the ODI by 30 runs.

After almost two decades, Harare Sports Club staged its first T20 international played between Zimbabwe and India. The visitors won the game by six wickets. 

Since then, it has hosted more than 40 T20 internationals so far.

Apart from international cricket, Harare Sports Club has also staged several local and domestic T20 games in Harare.

With that being said, let’s have a look at Harare Sports Club T20 records and stats.

Harare Sports Club T20 records and stats

Highest total

The Indian cricket team holds the record for the highest total at the Harare Sports Club in T20 cricket. During the second T20I of India's tour of Zimbabwe in July 2024, the Shubman Gill-led visitors posted 234/2 in their 20 overs in Harare. Electing to bat first, India rode on Abhishek Sharma's 100 off just 47 balls to post a record T20 total at the venue. Later, India bowled out Zimbabwe for 134 in 18.4 overs to register a comprehensive 100-run victory in the game.

Lowest total

Mashonaland Eagles registered the lowest total at the Harare Sports Club in T20 format. Chasing 230, Mashonaland Eagles were bundled out for 16 in 8.1 overs against Durham in the Zimbabwe Domestic Twenty20 Competition final in March 2024. Interestingly, not a single batter managed to reach double digits as captain Chamu Chibhabha and Tapiwa Mufudza were the top-scorers with four each. For Durham, Callum Parkinson, Paul Coughlin and Luke Robinson bagged two wickets each. Earlier, Bas de Leede (58), Ollie Robinson (49) and Haydon Mustard (46 not out) powered Durham to 229/6 in their 20 overs to help thrash Mashonaland Eagles by 213 runs.

Most runs

Former Zimbabwe cricketer Hamilton Masakadza has scored the most runs at the Harare Sports Club in T20 cricket. Having represented the likes of Easterns Zimbabwe, Mountaineers, Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe XI, Hamilton Masakadza amassed 1,432 runs in 45 matches in the T20 format at this venue. The right-handed batter recorded two centuries and 11 fifties on this ground in T20 cricket. Zimbabwe all-rounder Chamu Chibhabha features second on the list with 1,116 runs in 50 T20 games.

Most wickets

Former Zimbabwe fast bowler Christopher Mpofu has picked up the most wickets at this venue in the T20 format. The former right-arm pacer scalped 41 wickets in 38 T20 matches at an average of 24.56 and an economy of 7.56. Christopher Mpofu played for several T20 teams at this ground including Matabeleland Tuskers, Mid West Rhinos, Westerns, Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe XI. Compatriot Shingi Masakadza is second on the list with 34 T20 wickets in 35 matches.

Highest individual score

Australia’s Aaron Finch registered the highest individual score at this venue in T20 cricket. Opening the batting, former Australia captain Aaron Finch slammed a 76-ball 172 against Zimbabwe in a Tri-Nation Series fixture in July 2018. Aaron Finch clobbered 16 fours and 10 sixes to propel Australia to 229/2 in their 20 overs. Finch’s magnificent century powered Australia to a 100-run victory in Harare.

Best bowling figures

Mashonaland Eagles�?Ray Price has the best bowling figures at the Harare Sports Club in the T20 format. The former Zimbabwe left-arm spinner recorded match-winning figures of 5/12 against Mountaineers in a Zimbabwe Domestic Twenty20 Competition game in 2010. Defending 141, Ray Price bagged the wickets of Mountaineers captain Hamilton Masakadza, Prosper Utseya, Shingi Masakadza, Bernard Mlambo and Natsai M'shangwe to help bowl out the opposition for 59 in 11.5 overs. The Eagles earlier posted 141/9 in their 20 overs to secure an 82-run win.

Highest partnership

Australia’s Aaron Finch and D'Arcy Short hold the record for the highest partnership at the Harare Sports Club in T20 cricket. During the third T20I of a Tri-Nation Series in 2018, former Australia openers Aaron Finch and D'Arcy Short forged a 223-run stand against hosts Zimbabwe. While Finch hammered 172, Short scored 46 to help Australia post 229/2 in their allotted overs. The incredible partnership guided Australia to a 100-run victory in Harare.

Photo credit: Alamy

West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle currently holds the record for the highest individual score in T20 cricket.

While playing for Team Bangalore in the 2013 Indian T20 League, Gayle slammed an unbeaten 175 off just 66 balls against the now-defunct Pune franchise at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. 

The southpaw broke New Zealand cricketer Brendon McCullum’s record, who smashed an unbeaten 158 off 73 balls for Team Kolkata against Bangalore in the first match of the inaugural edition of the Indian T20 League in 2008.

During his record-breaking innings, Gayle also broke the record for the fastest T20 hundred, reaching his magnificent century in 30 balls. Gayle’s innings was laced with 17 sixes and 13 fours.

Australia T20I captain Aaron Finch boasts the second-highest individual score in T20 cricket.

In the third match of Zimbabwe T20I Tri-series featuring the hosts, Australia and Pakistan, Finch hammered 172 off just 76 balls against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2018.

Finch’s incredible innings, which included 16 fours and 10 maximums, is also the highest individual score in T20I cricket.

Zimbabwe’s Hamilton Masakadza comes in third on the list for the highest individual scorers in T20 cricket.

While playing for the Mountaineers in their domestic Twenty20 competition, Masakadza smashed an unbeaten 71-ball 162 against Mashonaland Eagles in 2016. His innings featured 14 fours and 11 sixes.

Afghanistan cricketer Hazratullah Zazai is the fourth batter on the list.

While opening the batting, Zazai hammered an unbeaten 162 against Ireland in the second T20I of the series in Dehradun in 2019. Zazai’s scintillating hundred powered Afghanistan to post a mammoth score of 278/3 in their allotted 20 overs. Zazai’s innings included 11 fours and 16 maximums.

England’s Adam Lyth is the fifth-highest individual score in men’s T20 cricket.

While representing Yorkshire in the NatWest T20 Blast, Lyth smashed 161 off 73 balls against Northamptonshire in 2017. Lyth’s innings was laced with 20 fours and seven sixes.

Interestingly, former New Zealand cricketer Brendon McCullum features twice on the list for the highest individual score in T20 cricket.

Apart from his unbeaten 158 in the Indian T20 League in 2008, McCullum blasted an unbeaten 64-ball 158 for Warwickshire against Derbyshire in the NatWest T20 Blast in 2015.

Aaron Finch, his Australia teammate Glenn Maxwell and England cricketer Luke Wright complete the top 10 list for the highest individual score in T20 cricket.

While Finch smashed 156 against England in Southampton in 2013, Maxwell registered an unbeaten 154 while playing for the Melbourne Stars against Hobart Hurricanes at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Big Bash League in 2022 .

Luke Wright features 10th on the list as he hammered an unbeaten 153 for Sussex against Essex in Chelmsford in the NatWest T20 Blast in 2014.

Meanwhile, Bahrain’s Deepika Rasangika holds the record for the highest individual score in women’s T20 cricket.

Opening the innings for Bahrain women’s cricket team, Rasangika smashed an unbeaten 161 against Saudi Arabia in the Golf Cup Women’s Twenty20 Championship.

Interestingly, Rasangika has also represented the Sri Lanka women’s cricket team for more than 60 matches between 2008 and 2014.

The Colombo-born cricketer broke the record of Australia wicket-keeper batter Alyssa Healy, who scored an unbeaten 61-ball 148 against Sri Lanka during the third T20I of Sri Lanka women's tour of Australia in 2019.

Highest individual score in T20 cricket

Player	For	Against	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Venue	Year
Chris Gayle	Bangalore	Bangalore	175*	66	13	17	Bengaluru	2013
Aaron Finch	Australia	Zimbabwe	172	76	16	10	Harare	2018
Hamilton Masakadza	Mountaineers	Mashonaland Eagles	162*	71	14	11	Bulawayo	2016
Hazratullah Zazai	Afghanistan	Ireland	162*	62	11	16	Dehradun	2019
Adam Lyth	Yorkshire	Northamptonshire	161	73	20	7	Leeds	2017
Brendon McCullum	Kolkata	Bangalore	158*	73	10	13	Bengaluru	2008
Brendon McCullum	Warwickshire	Derbyshire	158*	64	13	11	Birmingham	2015
Aaron Finch	Australia	England	156	63	11	14	Southampton	2013
Glenn Maxwell	Melbourne Stars	Hobart Hurricanes	154*	64	22	4	Melbourne	2022
Luke Wright	Sussex	Essex	153*	66	12	11	Chelmsford	2014

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Featured photo: MANJUNATH KIRAN / AFP

For many batsmen, scoring a hundred in a Test match often represents the pinnacle of their career from an individualistic point of view. While few batsmen have to bide their time and wait for a while before they score their maiden Test ton, for others, it may come early into their careers. Here, we have a look at those individuals who didn’t have to wait too long to score their first hundred and are among the five youngest centurions in Test history.  

Mohammad Ashraful (September 2001)

The former Bangladesh captain became the youngest Test player to score a century at 17 years and 61 days of age. After Bangladesh were bundled out for a mere 90 in their first innings of the second Test of the 2001 Asian Test Championship in Colombo and Sri Lanka posted a mammoth 555 on the scoreboard in their first innings, debutant Mohammad Ashraful gave us a glimpse of his talent in the tourists�?second innings. The right-hander scored a spirited and tenacious century on a difficult surface in the second innings as Bangladesh succumbed after scoring 328, giving Sri Lanka an innings and 137-run win. A young Ashraful scored a hard-fought 114, hitting 16 boundaries along the way at a strike rate of 53.77.

Mushtaq Mohammad (February 1961)

Mushtaq Mohammad held the record for being the youngest Test centurion for the longest time following his 101 for Pakistan during their tour of India in 1961. The hosts won the toss and scored 463 in their first innings after deciding to bat. In reply, Pakistan managed 286 in their first innings with Mushtaq top-scoring for them with a 101 that featured 19 fours. He was 17 years and 78 days of age at the time and also scored 22 in the second innings as the tourists were bowled out for 250. The match ended in a draw but Mushtaq would have taken fond memories from the game. 

Sachin Tendulkar (August 1990)

The person who broke Mushtaq’s record 29 years later was a teenage Sachin Tendulkar. The Indian legend offered the cricketing world a sneak peek into his brilliance when he scored 68 while batting in India’s first innings of the second Test of their 1990 tour of England.

His 68 helped India score 432 after the hosts had posted 519 in the first innings but it was in India’s second innings when they were chasing a target of 408 that Tendulkar broke Mushtaq’s 29-year old record. He scored an unbeaten 119 at 17 years and 107 days, put on a 160-run partnership with Manoj Prabhakar to save the Test and was adjudged the Player of the Match.

Hamilton Masakadza (July 2001)

The only player from outside the Indian subcontinent on this list, Zimbabwean Hamilton Masakadza was just 17 years and 352 days old when he scored his first Test ton on the international stage. After Zimbabwe were bowled out for just 131 in the first innings of the second Test of West Indies�?tour of the African nation in 2001, the tourists scored 347 in their first innings, leaving the hosts with their back to the wall. Zimbabwe, though, produced a much better display in the second innings with Masakadza playing a starring role by scoring 119 as the match ended in a draw.

Imran Nazir (May 2000)

The swashbuckling right-hander is remembered as an explosive player in ODIs, but not many will know that he’s the second-youngest Test centurion in Pakistan cricket. Playing in the second Test of Pakistan’s tour of West Indies in 2000, Imran Nazir hit 20 fours and scored 131 at a strike rate of 72.77. He was 18 years and 154 days of age when he scored the century but unfortunately couldn’t realise his full potential and went on to play just eight Tests for Pakistan in his career.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Lakruwan Wanniarachchi

Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza could not hold back the tears when announcing to his players that Friday's match against Afghanistan would be his last in internationals.

The 36-year-old was given a guard of honor by both sides as he came in to bat in Chittagong and then hit 71 off 42 balls to take Zimbabwe to an impressive seven-wicket victory -- their first win over Afghanistan -- in the T20I match.

#5thT20I | RESULT: @ZimCricketv (156-3 in 19.3 overs - Masakadza 71, Chakabva 39, Williams 21*; Mujeeb 2/28, Dawlat 1/27) beat @ACBofficials (155-8 in 20 overs - Gurbaz 61, Zazai 31, Shafiqullah 16; Mpofu 4/30, Mutombodzi 2/18, Jarvis 1/27) by 7 wickets #ZIMvAFG #ThankYouHami pic.twitter.com/x3GJ9Tc6Xw

�?Zimbabwe Cricket (@ZimCricketv) September 20, 2019

Masakadza ended his 18-year international career with a blistering five sixes and four fours.

"Obviously it was super special. To lead the team to the win was really special," he said late Friday.

Masakadza, who has played a key role in Zimbabwe's faltering progress in international cricket since making his debut in 2001, acknowledged the emotions got the better of him before the game had even started.  

"I started tearing a little bit in the morning trying to get through the team talk with the boys," he said.

"I am not someone who wears his heart on his sleeve, but I think this is the one thing that brought a few emotions out of me.

"Even when I tried to tell the guys and the team before I made the official announcement, I barely got through three sentences, so it's been a really emotional time for me," he said.

Masakadza set a world record on his debut against the West Indies when he became the youngest Test century scorer at 17 years and 254 days. His record survived barely three months before being broken by Bangladesh's Mohammad Ashraful.

He was also Zimbabwe's first black player to score a first-class century.

Masakadza later took a three-year break in his international career to pursue studies and returned with the national team in turmoil over player disputes with the national federation.

The troubles affected his career and he had to wait until 2011 to score his second Test century, against Bangladesh, after Zimbabwe ended a five-year self-exile from Test cricket.

Masakadza, who played 38 Tests, 209 one-day internationals and 66 T20 internationals said he was leaving with no bitterness. 

"I have been going through a lot of emotions today, but regret is not one of them. I am really thankful, thankful to the board for giving me the chance to play as long as I have," he said.

Friday's game was Zimbabwe's last in the three-nation series. Bangladesh will play Afghanistan in the final on Tuesday.

Feature Image Courtesy: Twitter/ @ICC

Zimbabwe's cricket captain Hamilton Masakadza said Thursday that his team was focused on the upcoming tri-nation Twenty20 tournament in Bangladesh, despite being suspended by the world governing body.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) suspended Zimbabwe in July over a failure to keep the sport free from government interference, putting the cricketing future of the country under a cloud.

But the ban is effective only in events hosted by the ICC, allowing the team to participate in the Bangladeshi tournament set to begin Friday, featuring the hosts and Afghanistan.

"Obviously a lot of things happened. That's all behind the scenes. At the end of the day as cricketers, our job is to�?play the best cricket on the field," Masakadza told reporters in Dhaka.

"The first and main thing for players is to concentrate on cricket and then put our best foot forward going out and do your job for your country tomorrow."

Zimbabwe will take on Bangladesh in the opening match in Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Friday.

Masakadza -- who will retire from international cricket after the tournament -- said his team were going into the games with a lot of confidence, having done well in Bangladesh in the past.

"Obviously, both the teams are very strong. Afghanistan have been playing very good Twenty20 cricket and Bangladesh being at home," he said.

"Though I know the both sides are very strong, we have a lot of successes in Twenty20 cricket here. So I don't think we are far behind them at all."

Zimbabwe's confidence was boosted further after Wednesday's seven-wicket win in a warm-up match against some of the Bangladeshi Twenty20 squad.

However, Masakadza said he was well aware that the matches going forward would be more challenging. 

Zimbabwe will face Afghanistan in their second match of the tournament on Saturday.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Munir UZ Zaman

Brace yourself for an exciting blend of games in the upcoming week as Australia and England tussle it out one final time this year in the Ashes with the hosts looking to save face by levelling the series. Meanwhile, in Bangladesh, an action-packed Test match will pave way for a tri-series involving Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and the hosts. India as well return to the field after their mini break as South Africa arrive in the sub-continent with a fairly new-look squad.

Despite Australia retaining the Ashes for the first time since 2001 with their win at Old Trafford, the final Test is no dead rubber with the series on the line. Even otherwise, the World Test Championship adds context to these matches and England will look to Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer - none of the other seem capable of creating magic - to give them a final boost.

Expect no miracle, though, for the team has had incredible luck so far this summer through the World Cup and the win at Headingley.

WATCH OUT FOR:

• Warner and Roy

Brothers in strife, Jason Roy and David Warner have been treading dangerously close to the precipice this Ashes with their lacklustre performances. While Roy has done slightly better than Warner despite purists puking all over him, his numbers of 110 runs in 4 Tests at 13.75 ooze little confidence. If he does play - which would be a shocker - Roy will have Warner for company in redeeming reputation. The Australian opener has quickly turned into Stuart Broad's bunny and has been dismissed six times by the pacer. In eight innings, Warner has made just 79 runs at an appalling average of 9.88. All you fantasy connoisseurs, stay away from the flop twins.

Welcome back, Zimbabwe

The tri-series in Bangladesh not only gives the hosts a chance to redeem their damaged reputation from the Test match but also gives Zimbabwe another stint in International cricket after ICC's suspension from major events. Retirements are due in Zimbabwean cricket but away from all the political tussles, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will resume a rivalry that is fast becoming a toast among the lower rung teams. The spin attacks of all three teams will be in focus for this T20I tri-series. There are two matches from the series in this upcoming week with Zimbabwe facing Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

WATCH OUT FOR:

• Hamilton Mazakadza

He isn't the most attractive T20 batsman going around but following the political issues in Zimbabwe, Mazakadza has decided to call time on his career and in his final series, will look to leave an indelible mark. Expect the Zimbabwean skipper to lead his men with aplomb. His T20I numbers are pretty good in fact with a strike rate of 115.92 and a highest score of 93*. He has 10 half-centuries in the format and is a good player of spin meaning that the conditions too wouldn't be too alien for him.

India rest Jasprit Bumrah to make it fairer

India return to action with South Africa coming to the sub-continent to receive what they dished out last year to  Virat Kohli and his troops. The week ends with this spectacle - the first game, a T20I, of the series to be played at Dharamsala. You may not be able to identify a lot of those South African newbies after some high profile retirements post the World Cup but India have done their best to make this an even contest by resting their pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami.

South Africa, meanwhile, have a new skipper in Quinton de Kock who will also be tasked with giving the Proteas good starts in Faf du Plessis' absence. There are a few new guns in the bowling department and put against India's experienced top-order, this would be a litmus test.

WATCH OUT FOR: 

• Krunal Pandya

He has excelled in the format for India since making a seamless transition from Indian T20 League's Mumbai franchise and will be watched out for as he comes up against stronger opponents. Pandya has struck at a rate of 132.47 for India in T20Is and a rate of 146.07 in the Indian T20 League. Combine those with an economy under 8 and a wicket-taking ability - has 14 wickets in as many games for India - and he becomes an invaluable part of the middle-order. He has figured in all T20I games India have played since his debut, underlining how important he is to their plans as the T20 World Cup looms.

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Feature image courtesy: AFP / Randy Brooks