T20 World Cup 2026: Zimbabwe Stun Depleted Australia in Colombo Shocker
COLOMBO – In one of the biggest upsets of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, a resilient Zimbabwe side defeated a star-studded but depleted Australia by 23 runs at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Friday. The victory, built on a mature batting performance and a sensational pace bowling display, has blown Group B wide open and left the 2021 champions fighting for their survival in the tournament .
Chasing a target of 170, the Australian batting order, missing several key players due to injury, collapsed spectacularly against the Zimbabwean pace attack. The win marks only Zimbabwe’s second victory over Australia in T20 Internationals and their first in a T20 World Cup since the iconic 2007 encounter .
Zimbabwe Bat with Maturity to Post Competitive Total
Sent in to bat first on a slow Premadasa surface, Zimbabwe opted for a mature, wicket-preserving approach. The strategy paid rich dividends as openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani laid a solid foundation with a 61-run stand. While Marumani scored a brisk 35, it was Bennett who anchored the innings with remarkable composure .
The 22-year-old Bennett remained unbeaten on 64 off 56 balls, finding the boundary seven times in an innings that was a masterclass in controlled aggression . He found able support from Ryan Burl (35) and captain Sikandar Raza, who accelerated late in the innings with a cameo of 25 not out off just 13 deliveries to propel Zimbabwe to a formidable 169/2 .
Australia’s bowlers, playing without their first-choice pace attack, struggled to make breakthroughs, managing only two wickets in the entire innings . The 70-run partnership between Bennett and Burl set a new record for Zimbabwe’s highest second-wicket stand in T20 World Cups .
Muzarabani and Evans Blow Away Top-Order
The Australian chase got off to a nightmare start. Zimbabwe’s pace duo exploited the conditions perfectly, running through the illustrious Australian top order. The moment of truth arrived in the fifth over when stand-in captain Travis Head chopped one onto his stumps, leaving Australia reeling at a shocking 29/4 .
Blessing Muzarabani was the chief architect of the collapse, using his height and bounce to extract demons from the pitch and finishing with career-best figures of 4/17. He was ably supported by Brad Evans, whose disciplined line and length earned him 3/23 .
Renshaw Fights Lone Battle as Middle Order Crumbles
Just when it seemed Australia was down and out, Matt Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell mounted a rearguard action. The pair added 77 runs for the fifth wicket, reigniting hopes of a heist. Renshaw, playing in his first T20 World Cup, battled his way to a fighting 65 off 44 balls for his maiden T20I half-century .
However, the rescue mission was dealt a fatal blow when part-time leg-spinner Ryan Burl induced an error from Maxwell, who dragged the ball onto his stumps for 31. The wicket triggered another dramatic collapse. From a comfortable 106/4, Australia lost their last six wickets for just 40 runs to be bowled out for 146 in 19.3 overs . Muzarabani and Evans returned to clean up the tail, sending the Zimbabwean fans into raptures with traditional dances in the stands .
Injury Woes Compound Australia’s Misery
Australia’s campaign is being severely tested by injuries even before this loss. The team is already without their "Big Three" of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and the retired Mitchell Starc . Captain Mitchell Marsh missed his second consecutive match due to a testicular injury, with Travis Head leading the side . The return of power-hitter Tim David, who made a two-ball duck, did little to solve their batting woes . To make matters worse, all-rounder Marcus Stoinis injured his hand while fielding, casting further doubt on their already depleted resources .
What This Means for Group B
The result has turned Group B on its head. With two wins from two, Zimbabwe and co-hosts Sri Lanka are now joint leaders, while the 2021 champions are languishing in third.
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +3.12 |
| Zimbabwe | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +1.98 |
| Australia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +1.10 |
| Ireland | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -2.17 |
| Oman | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -4.31 |
Table: ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Group B Points Table (as of Feb 13)
For Australia, the path to the Super 8s is now precarious. They must win their remaining group matches against Sri Lanka and Oman and hope other results go their way to avoid an embarrassing first-round exit . For Zimbabwe, the win is a massive statement of intent, proving they belong on the biggest stage after failing to qualify for the 2024 event .
Quotes of the Day
Blessing Muzarabani (Player of the Match): "I was bowling to some of the best players in the world, so I am really happy it came off really nice. Really good to beat Australia, but also (will be) nice to qualify (for the Super 8s), so looking forward to the next game now."
Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe Captain) at the toss: "On Zimbabwe being unbeaten against Australia in T20 World Cups... Zimbabwe don't get a lot of bilateral series against them, so we try and make the most of whatever opportunities we get."
What's Next?
Australia will need to regroup quickly as they face a must-win clash against co-hosts Sri Lanka in Kandy on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe, brimming with confidence, will look to seal their Super 8s spot when they take on Ireland .
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