Kamal Ghorui
Zimbabwe produced the first major upset of the ongoing T20 World Cup, stunning former champions Australia by 23 runs in a memorable clash on Friday. It was only the second time Zimbabwe have beaten Australia in the shortest format at the global showpiece, having previously done so in the 2007 edition in Cape Town under Prosper Utseya.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Invited to bat, Zimbabwe’s top order fired in unison to post a competitive 169 for 2 on a sluggish surface. Opener Brian Bennett anchored the innings with a composed unbeaten 64 off 56 balls, striking seven fours and providing the foundation for a total that proved more than enough. He shared a 61-run opening stand with wicketkeeper Tadiwanashe Marumani in 7.3 overs, setting the tone early.
Marumani made 35, peppering Ben Dwarshuis for two boundaries in one over and Glenn Maxwell for three in another. Bennett joined the charge with two fours off Matthew Kuhnemann as Zimbabwe reached 47 without loss at the end of the Powerplay. They were 61 for 1 and moved to 79 for 1 at halfway before adding 46 runs in the next five overs to reach 125 for 1 after 15 overs.Ryan Burl chipped in with 35, while captain Sikandar Raza remained unbeaten on a brisk 25 off 13 balls. Despite having wickets in hand, Zimbabwe managed just one six in the innings and added 44 runs in the final five overs as Australia fought back at the death. Adam Zampa was handled confidently, returning 0/31 from four overs.In reply, Australia’s chase of 170 unravelled quickly. They slumped to 29 for 4 in just 4.3 overs, losing Josh Inglis (8), Travis Head (17), Cameron Green (0) and Tim David (0) in a dramatic top-order collapse. From 38 for 4 at the end of the Powerplay, they crawled to 67 for 4 at the halfway mark, still needing 103 runs.Matt Renshaw waged a lone battle with a 44-ball 65, while Maxwell contributed 31. The pair stitched a 77-run stand for the fifth wicket in 9.5 overs to revive hopes. But Burl broke the partnership when Maxwell inside-edged onto his stumps.Australia needed 56 from the final five overs, but Marcus Stoinis, who had earlier left the field after being struck on the hand while attempting a return catch off Burl, fell for 6. Bennett then took a stunning boundary catch to dismiss Dwarshuis (7) for Brad Evans’ third wicket (3/23). With 34 needed off 12 balls, Australia lost Renshaw and Zampa (2) in the 19th over before Matthew Kuhnemann (0) was run out in the final over, bowled out for 146 in 19.3 overs.Blessing Muzarabani was the standout with a career-defining 4/17 — Zimbabwe’s best bowling figures in a T20 World Cup match and the second-best against Australia in the tournament after R Ashwin’s 4/11 in Mirpur in 2014. Wellington Masakadza (1/36) and Burl (1/9) offered solid support.The win in Colombo marked Zimbabwe’s fifth victory over Australia across formats — following successes at Trent Bridge (1983 ODI WC, by 13 runs under Duncan Fletcher), Cape Town (2007 T20 WC, by 5 wickets), Harare (2014 ODI, by 3 wickets under Elton Chigumbura), Townsville (2022 ODI, by 3 wickets under Regis Chakabva), and now Colombo (2026 T20 WC, by 23 runs under Raza).Remarkably, Zimbabwe remain the only team with a 100 percent win record against Australia in the Men’s T20 World Cup. The night also highlighted their bowling pedigree in T20Is — Richard Ngarava (111 wickets), Raza (103) and Muzarabani (100) have all crossed the 100-wicket mark — underlining a golden chapter in Zimbabwe’s cricketing history.Zimbabwe’s wins across formats vs AustraliaBy 13 runs (ODI), Trent Bridge, 1983 WC (c: Duncan Fletcher)By 5 wkts (T20I), Cape Town, 2007 WC (c: Prosper Utseya)By 3 wkts (ODI), Harare, 2014 (c: Elton Chigumbura)By 3 wkts (ODI), Townsville, 2022 (c: Regis Chakabva)By 23 runs (T20I), Colombo RPS, 2026 WC (c: Sikandar Raza)*Zimbabwe’s wins vs other FM teams at T20 WCvs AUS, Cape Town, 2007vs IRE, Hobart, 2022vs PAK, Perth, 2022vs AUS, Colombo, 2026*Zimbabwe is the only team with a 100% win-record over Australia in the Men’s T20 WC.100-plus wickets for ZIM in T20Is111 – Richard Ngarava103 – Sikandar Raza100 – Blessing Muzarabani4/17 by Muzarabani is the best bowling figures for Zimbabwe in a T20 WC match.This is also the second-best bowling figure against Australia in a T20 WC match behind 4/11 by R Ashwin in Mirpur in the 2014 edition.
