It is indicative of how much fortunes can change in international cricket by the fact that Kenya and Zimbabwe - semi-finalists and sixth place respectively in the 2003 ODI World Cup - are now having to play the likes of Mozambique and the Seychelles in the first phase of qualifying for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Zimbabwe's contest against the Seychelles was perhaps the first time a Test playing nation had taken on a genuine cricketing minnow, with 80 places separating them in the rankings. Seychelles captain Tim Horpintch won the toss and - somewhat bravely - asked Zimbabwe to bat first at the Gymkhana Club Ground in Nairobi.

Given the gulf in class between the two sides, Seychelles will have been pleased to keep the Zimbabweans to under 300, with 286-5 coming from their 20 overs. Just over half of those runs came in a rapid opening partnership of 145 in 9.4 overs between Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani, which ended when the latter was out for 86 from 37 balls. Bennett scored his runs even quicker, smashing 91 from 35 balls. 

Rain brought an end to the game after one ball of the seventh over with Seychelles on 18-2, 76 runs behind the DLS par score.

Hosts Kenya took on Mozambique at the Ruaraka Sports Club ground and were put into bat by Mozambique captain Filipe Cossa. After losing opener Pushkar Sharma in the first over and Rushab Patel soon afterwards, the Kenyan third wicket pair of Dhiren Gondaria and Rakep Patel added 84 in 8.1 overs to take the score to 105-3 when Gondaria was out for 28.

Kenya batters during today's game (Cricket Kenya)

Patel batted on, adding another 111 for the fourth wicket with Sachin Bhudia before he was finally out for 120 from 55 balls, the highest score in men's T20Is for Kenya. The final total for the home side was 224-4 from their 20 overs.

The Mozambique reply lasted more overs than that of the Syechelles before rain ended things after 18 overs. The visitors were on 76-8 at that point, 111 runs behind the DLS par score. Shem Ngoche was the pick of the Kenyan bowlers with 3-16.

There was supposed to be one more game earlier in the day, but Gambia failed to arrive on time for their match against Rwanda, with the latter awarded the walkover victory.

Play continues tomorrow, with Zimbabwe playing Mozambique and Gambia - if they turn up - taking on Seychelles. In the afternoon, Rwanda face off against hosts Kenya.