Zimbabwe produced a sensational performance to upset Australia by 23 runs, securing their second group-stage victory in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at R. Premadasa Stadium.
Batting first, Zimbabwe got off to a flying start as openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani shared a 61-run partnership, setting a strong foundation against the Australian bowling attack.
Marumani was dismissed by Marcus Stoinis for 35 runs off 21 balls, including seven boundaries, breaking the opening stand and bringing Zimbabwe’s middle order into the game at 61-1.
Bennett then partnered with Ryan Burl, adding 70 runs and guiding Zimbabwe past the 100-run mark, while Bennett reached his tenth T20I fifty to maintain momentum for the Zimbabwe.
Burl was run out for 35 runs off 30 balls, leaving Zimbabwe at 131-2 in 16 overs, before skipper Sikandar Raza played a quick cameo to help cross the 150-run mark.
Zimbabwe finished strongly at 169-2 in 20 overs, with Bennett unbeaten on 64 off 56 balls, including seven fours, while Raza contributed 25 off 13 balls featuring a four and a six.
Chasing 170, Australia stumbled early as Josh Inglis was dismissed for eight off four balls by Blessing Muzarabani, followed immediately by Brad Evans removing Cameron Green for a second-ball duck at 24-2.
The right-arm fast bowler struck again to dismiss Tim David for a duck, while Travis Head added 17 runs off 15 balls before falling, leaving Australia reeling at 29-4 in just 4.3 overs.
Glenn Maxwell and Matt Renshaw rebuilt the innings with a 77-run partnership, taking Australia past 50 runs, but Ryan Burl dismissed Maxwell for 31, leaving the side at 106-5 in 14.2 overs.
Wellington Masakadza trapped Marcus Stoinis for six, while Renshaw held the innings together, reaching a fifty, but Brad Evans’ wicket of Ben Dwarshuis left Australia 131-7 in 17.4 overs.
In a dramatic finish, Muzarabani dismissed Renshaw for 65 runs and Adam Zampa shortly after, leaving Matthew Kuhnemann run out and Australia 23 runs short of Zimbabwe’s total.
For Australia, only Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Green claimed one wicket each, while other bowlers struggled to make an impact against Zimbabwe’s disciplined and clinical batting lineup.