Gambia may have eventually turned up to African sub-regional qualifier B in Nairobi but after today's match against tournament favourites Zimbabwe, they probably wish they hadn't bothered.

Batting first after Sikandar Raza won the toss, Zimbabwe started in rapid fashion with openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani putting on 98 in 5.4 overs before the latter was out for 62.

Brian Myers only lasted five balls before he was the next man out, but this brought Raza to the crease, and he began to demolish the Gambian bowlers. Bennett was the third man out for 50 from 26 balls, with Raza and Ryan Burl adding 60 in four overs before Burl was out for 25.

Raza brought up hius century from just 33 balls - the first century for Zimbabwe in men's T20Is - as he and Clive Madande took the score from 203-4 to 344-4. Raza finished unbeaten on 133 from 43 balls with Madande scoring 53 from only 17 balls.

Raza and Madande walk off after Zimbabwe's record total (ICC Africa)

Zimbabwe's previous highest total was the 286-5 they scored against the Seychelles four days ago - their top three scores have all come in this tournament. Nepal are the only other team to have made 300 in men's T20Is after scoring 314-3 against Mongolia in last year's Asian Games.

In reply, Gambia were bowled out for 54 to lose by 290 runs, with Zimbabwe's winning margin also a record for men's T20Is.

In other matches today, Seychelles batted first against Kenya and were bowled out for 74, which Kenya chased down in 10.3 overs to win by nine wickets. Rwanda batted out their overs against Mozambique but could only manage 86-8. Mozambique secured a five wicket win with 4.5 overs to spare.

These results mean that Zimbabwe and Kenya have now both secured their places in next year's African final with one day still to come. The sides will meet tomorrow afternoon to decide the winners of the tournament. In other games, Rwanda take on Seychelles and Gambia come up against Mozambique.