Zambia beat Lesotho by 7 wickets, with 74 balls remaining, in the 8th match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Africa Sub Regional Qualifier C at the Nigeria Cricket Federation Oval 2, Abuja, on 23 Oct 2026.
Lesotho won the toss and chose to bat first, but were bowled out for 58 in 13.4 overs. M Devush Patel top-scored with 38 off 32 balls, hitting 4 fours and 2 sixes, before he was caught by Javid Patel off Zahirbhai Patel with the score on 46/2. Lesotho reached 55/3 when Ajaz Patel fell for 7 off 23 balls, but their last seven wickets went down for just three more runs. Maaz Khan and Gladwin Thamae were bowled by Javid Patel off consecutive balls, and CF Tlali, who made 8 off 14 balls, was the ninth man out at 58/9.
Zahirbhai Patel finished with 4 for 4 from 3 overs, and Javid Patel took 4 for 11 from 3.4 overs. Inshaf Farook was run out.
In reply, Zambia lost Ismail Kara for 12 off 8 balls, including 3 fours, when he was caught by Ts'episo Chaoana off Inshaf Farook at 15/1. Chaoana then trapped Javid Patel lbw for 0 and bowled Zahirbhai Patel for 10, leaving Zambia on 36/3.
Jakir Patel, who made 22 not out off 17 balls, and Vasmiakram Chand, who made 14 not out off 10, took Zambia to 61/3 in 7.4 overs. Chaoana was Lesotho's most successful bowler with 2 for 19 from 3 overs, and Farook took 1 for 16 from 2.
Zahirbhai Patel was named player of the match.