Zimbabwe shock Australia in huge upset at T20 World Cup

Zimbabwe bowl out a depleted Australia for 146 in 23-run win to humble one of the favourites for the 2026 T20 World Cup.Published On 13 Feb 2026Zimbabwe beat a depleted Australia by 23 runs in Colombo to pull off the biggest shock of the T20 World Cup so far.After posting 169-2 in their 20 overs on Friday, thanks mainly to Brian Bennett’s classy 64 not out, Zimbabwe had Australia 29-4 before dismissing them for 146 in 19.3 overs.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4How India-Pakistan cricket relations went from bad to worse – a timelinelist 2 of 4India hammer Namibia in run-up to Pakistan T20 World Cup showdownlist 3 of 4Historic cricket win for Italy at T20 World Cup in Indialist 4 of 4T20 World Cup: West Indies thump sorry England to lead Group Cend of listThe Zimbabweans, ranked 11th, were always in control against their second-ranked opponents in the Group B game at R Premadasa Stadium after opening bowlers Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans ripped out Australia’s top order.There were sensational scenes at the venue as a group of Zimbabwe fans dressed in their team jerseys celebrated the win with a traditional dance.Muzarabani was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 4-17.Australia retained hope of a rearguard victory when Glenn Maxwell and Matt Renshaw put on 77 for the fifth wicket.But once part-time leg-spinner Ryan Burl induced one of the short game’s great players, Maxwell, to drag one on to his stumps for 31, they were never in the hunt and tumbled from 106-4 to 146 all out.Opening batsman Bennett’s unbeaten 64 off 56 balls was an exercise in controlled aggression as he rarely went the aerial route and found the boundary seven times.It was the 22-year-old’s 10th half-century in T20 internationals.Bennett and Ryan Burl put on 70 for the second wicket, a record stand for Zimbabwe in T20 World Cups after an opening stand of 61 with Tadiwanashe Marumani.Zimbabwe thrashed Oman in their opener.Australia beat Ireland on Wednesday, but with matches to come against co-hosts Sri Lanka and Oman, another defeat could see them on the plane home after the group stage.