Zimbabwe stun Australia in Colombo as Muzarabani, Bennett star in T20 WC upset
Zimbabwe stun Australia in Colombo as Muzarabani, Bennett star in T20 WC upset
Zimbabwe beat Australia by 23 runs in Colombo, paced by Muzarabani's 4-17 and Bennett's 64*, reshaping Group B at the T20 World Cup.
Zimbabwe produced one of the biggest surprises of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, defeating Australia by 23 runs in a Group B clash at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. It was a performance built on calm batting and a ruthless bowling display that left the former champions reeling from the outset. Zimbabwe posted 169 for 2 on a sluggish surface, with opener Brian Bennett anchoring the innings and remaining not out on 64 as the backbone of their total. Tadiwanashe Marumani chipped in with a brisk 35, and captain Sikandar Raza added a late flourish to push the team past the 160-mark, giving Australia a tangible target in a match that would prove pivotal for Group B.
Australia’s reply began in nightmare fashion, with four wickets falling for just 29 in the Powerplay. The top order collapsed as Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David fell early, leaving the middle order to cobble together a chase that never gathered momentum on a surface offering assistance to disciplined bowling. Zimbabwe’s seamers kept things tight, denying boundaries at crucial moments and storing up pressure as the rate climbed.
In the end, Australia were bowled out for 146 in 19.3 overs, handing Zimbabwe a famous victory that has wide implications for the group. Muzarabani was the standout with figures of 4 for 17, his spell helping to stifle Australia’s chase and setting up a memorable result for Zimbabwe, one that echoes their famous 2007 triumph in the format. This win confirms that in T20 cricket, the game’s margins can be razor-thin, and upsets like these keep the group stages endlessly unpredictable.
