T20 World Cup 2026: Zimbabwe Repeats 2007 Upset, Shocks Australia In Group B Thriller

Colombo: Making history in the T20 World Cup 2026, Zimbabwe defeated Australia. Batting first, Zimbabwe posted 169/2. Australia, in reply, managed only 146 and lost the match by 23 runs. This marked Zimbabwe's second consecutive win in the tournament, while Australia suffered their first defeat.

How did Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans boost Zimbabwe?

Defending 170, Zimbabwe launched an attack on Australia from the very second over. Blessing Muzarabani dismissed Josh Inglis on the first ball of the second over, after he had scored 8 runs. Cameron Green and Tim David failed to open their account after that. Australia continued to lose wickets, at one point finding themselves at 29 for 4. From there, Glenn Maxwell (31) forged a 50-run partnership with Matthew Renshaw, but it wasn't enough. Renshaw was eventually dismissed for 65, leaving Zimbabwe just a short distance away from victory. Blessing Muzarabani took four wickets and Brad Evans took five.

How about we add some dance moves. 🪘🕺

Australia are 122/6 after 16 overs

They need 48 runs in 24 balls with 4 wickets in hand

📹 @ICC#T20WorldCup #ZIMvAUS 📝: https://t.co/v7MN1B6xMe pic.twitter.com/xdvyki42q9

— Zimbabwe Cricket (@ZimCricketv) February 13, 2026

How did Brian Bennett help Zimbabwe?

Earlier, thanks to Brian Bennett's unbeaten 64, Zimbabwe posted a challenging 169 for two against Australia in the T20 World Cup match here on Friday. Bennett laid the foundation for a big score for Zimbabwe by hitting seven fours in 56 balls. Zimbabwe had reached 125 for one after 15 overs, but Australia made a comeback in the final overs, conceding only 44 runs in the last five overs.

How did other Zimbabwe batsmen perform?

Wicketkeepers Tadiwanashe Marumani (35) and Ryan Burl (35) also made useful contributions, while captain Sikandar Raza remained unbeaten on 25 off 13 balls. Zimbabwe had wickets in hand and could have played risky shots, but he chose not to. He hit only one six in his entire innings. In the absence of players like Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Australia's fast bowling attack lacked sharpness early on, and the Zimbabwe batsmen capitalized on this.

Zimbabwe's batsmen also handled Adam Zampa well. Zampa conceded 31 runs in his four overs and went wicketless. Invited to bat first, Zimbabwe's innings was highlighted by a 61-run opening partnership between Marumani and Bennett in 7.3 overs.

After a slow start, Marumani hit two fours off Ben Dwarshius in the third over and three fours off Glenn Maxwell in the fourth over. Bennett hit two fours in Matthew Kuhnemann's fifth over as Zimbabwe reached 47 for no loss in the power play. Australia got success in the eighth over when Marcus Stoinis dismissed Marumani. Stoinis was injured while trying to catch Burl off his own bowling in the 16th over and had to leave the field.

Cameron Green completed the 16th over and it proved lucky for him as Burl was dismissed on the last ball.