Zimbabwe shocked Australia in a Group B clash at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, winning by 23 runs to record the first upset of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Zimbabwe posted 169/2 in their 20 overs, thanks to Brian Bennett’s unbeaten 64, contributions from Marumani, Burl, and Raza, and disciplined batting in testing conditions. Australia, chasing 170, collapsed to 146 all out in 19.3 overs.
Blessing Muzarabani delivered a superb spell, taking 4 wickets for 17 runs, while Brad Evans added crucial breakthroughs with 3 wickets. Their early strikes dismantled Australia’s top order and kept the chase under control.
Zimbabwe’s victory extended their unbeaten record against Australia in T20 World Cups, reinforcing their reputation as giant-killers. Fans hailed the performance as one of the greatest upsets in tournament history.
Australia, the 2021 champions, struggled to build partnerships and failed to counter Zimbabwe’s disciplined bowling attack. The result leaves Group B wide open, with Zimbabwe gaining momentum and confidence for the rest of the campaign.
