Highlights Aus vs Zim: In one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 T20 World Cup, Zimbabwe defeated Australia at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Friday, delivering a performance that will be remembered for years. Defending a competitive total of 169, the Chevrons dominated with both bat and ball to seal a famous victory and boost their Super 8 qualification hopes.
Zimbabwe Build a Solid Foundation
After Australia chose to bowl first, Zimbabwe’s top order showed confidence on a slow pitch. Brian Bennett played a match-defining knock, finishing unbeaten on 64 off 56 balls. He shared a strong opening partnership with Tadiwanashe Marumani, who added 35 runs and helped Zimbabwe reach 61 without heavy pressure.
Ryan Burl then kept the momentum going with a steady 35, while captain Sikandar Raza provided the late acceleration with a quick 25 off just 13 balls. Zimbabwe ended their innings at 169/2, a total that looked competitive as the pitch slowed down.
Australia’s Batting Collapse in Powerplay
The Highlights Aus vs Zim T20 WORLD CUP MATCH truly began in the powerplay, where Zimbabwe’s pace attack stunned Australia. Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans removed key batters early, reducing Australia to 38/4 in six overs.
| Australian Batter | Dismissal | Bowler | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Inglis | c Musekiwa | Muzarabani | 8 |
| Cameron Green | c Marumani | Evans | 0 |
| Tim David | c Cremer | Muzarabani | 0 |
| Travis Head | b Evans | Evans | 17 |
Renshaw Fights Alone but Zimbabwe Stay Calm
Matt Renshaw tried to rescue the chase with a fighting 65, but the required run rate kept climbing above 10 runs per over. Glenn Maxwell failed to find rhythm in humid Colombo conditions, and once Renshaw fell in the 19th over, Australia’s hopes faded quickly.
Muzarabani finished with four wickets and also reached his 100th T20I scalp as Australia closed at 146/10. The result leaves the former champions under pressure while Zimbabwe celebrate one of their most memorable World Cup wins.
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