Kamal Ghorui
Zimbabwe’s 23-run win over Australia in the ongoing T20 World Cup has also drawn attention to a past trend involving India in global tournaments. On earlier occasions when Zimbabwe defeated Australia in a World Cup, India went on to lift the title.Zimbabwe recorded the first major upset of the ongoing T20 World Cup, defeating former champions Australia by 23 runs on Friday at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.This was only the second time Zimbabwe have beaten Australia in this format. The previous win came in the 2007 edition of the tournament.
After being asked to bat, Zimbabwe scored 169 for 2, led by opener Brian Bennett’s unbeaten 64 and contributions from other top-order batters. Australia were then bowled out for 146 in 19.3 overs on a slow pitch.In the 2007 edition, Zimbabwe, under Prosper Utseya, had beaten Australia by five wickets with one ball remaining in a low-scoring match in Cape Town.Blessing Muzarabani took 4 for 17. Brad Evans claimed 3 for 23, while Wellington Masakadza (1/36) and Ryan Burl (1/9) also picked up wickets.Chasing 170, Australia lost early wickets and were reduced to 29 for 4 in 4.3 overs. Josh Inglis (8), Travis Head (17), Cameron Green (0) and Tim David (0) were dismissed cheaply.Matt Renshaw scored 65 off 44 balls, while Glenn Maxwell made 31. Australia were 38 for 4 at the end of the Powerplay and 67 for 4 at the halfway stage, needing 103 more runs.Renshaw and Maxwell added 77 runs for the fifth wicket in 9.5 overs to revive the chase. The partnership ended when Maxwell edged a delivery from Ryan Burl onto his stumps.Australia needed 56 runs from the last five overs. Marcus Stoinis, who had earlier left the field after being struck during the Zimbabwe innings, was dismissed for 6.Brian Bennett took a catch near the boundary to dismiss Ben Dwarshuis (7), giving Brad Evans his third wicket.Australia required 34 runs from 12 balls but lost Renshaw and Adam Zampa (2) in the 19th over. Matthew Kuhnemann (0) was run out in the final over.Earlier, Zimbabwe’s top order combined well against the Australian attack to set up the total of 169 for 2. Australia are yet to beat Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup, having lost both meetings. Zimbabwe had also defeated Australia by 13 runs at Trent Bridge in the 1983 ODI World Cup when the side was led by Kim Hughes.On both previous occasions when Zimbabwe beat Australia in a World Cup, India went on to win the tournament. In 1983, Kapil Dev’s team stopped West Indies from winning a third consecutive title. In 2007, MS Dhoni’s side won the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa, defeating Pakistan by five runs in the final.
