2 min learnUp to date: Feb 13, 2026 03:15 PM IST
Zimbabwe on Friday shocked former champions Australia by 23 runs within the 2026 T20 World Cup Group B match between the 2 sides on the R Premadasa Stadium. Chasing a goal of 170, Australia had been despatched packing for a rating of 146. Quick bowler Blessing Muzarabani led the best way with figures of 4/17.
Zimbabwe picked as many as 4 wickets within the powerplay, leaving Australia tottering at 29/4 at one level. Muzarabani and Brad Evans eliminated Australia’s Josh Inglis, Cam Inexperienced, Tim David and Travis Head inside the first 4 overs. Glenn Maxwell and Matt Renshaw then held up the Australian hopes for some time however they might by no means fairly get going at a good run price. Maxwell finally fell after an uncharacteristically sluggish innings, placing collectively simply 31 runs in 32 balls.
Requested to bat first, Zimbabwe made 169/2, driving on a half century by opener Brian Bennett and helpful contribution decrease down from captain Sikandar Raza. Zimbabwe earlier began with a 61-run opening stand between Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani. Australia, who’re reeling from accidents to plenty of key gamers, appeared to have gotten their noses in entrance briefly after the powerplay, after they dismissed Marumani on 35 off 21 balls. Australia’s stand-in skipper Travis Head introduced Adam Zampa, Matthew Kuhnemann and Maxwell into the assault however his facet didn’t arrest the circulation of runs, even after Marcus Stoinis had Tadiwanashe Marumani caught behind for 35.
That setback barely mattered for Zimbabwe as Bennett helped information them previous the 100-run mark within the thirteenth over and introduced up his half-century whereas stitching collectively a 70-run partnership with Ryan Burl. Australia had been left sweating when Stoinis walked off after being hit on his hand whereas trying to cease a ferocious shot by Burl, who perished for 35 on the following ball bowled by Cameron Inexperienced to finish the sixteenth over. Australia composed themselves and tightened issues up via Zampa and Nathan Ellis. Nonetheless, captain Raza then got here and shifted gears to provide Zimbabwe the late burst they had been searching for, Raza completed unbeaten on 25 off 13 balls, hitting the one six of the Zimbabwe innings off the final ball of the final over.