Australia vs Zimbabwe HIGHLIGHTS | T20 World Cup: Brian Bennett, Blessing Muzarabani the heroes as ZIM beat former champions by 23 runs

A landmark evening for Zimbabwe, and one that could reshape the complexion of Group B. The table is tightening up, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, sit level on four points apiece, Australia trail with two, while Ireland and Oman are still searching for their first breakthrough.

The race to the Super Eight is far from settled and the coming fixtures promise more drama and shifting equations.

That’s all from here for now. Until next time, take care and see you soon.

Two wins in two matches for Zimbabwe vs Australia in the history of T20 World Cups. They beat them in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2007, also in this edition of the competition in 2026.

Zimbabwe’s wins across formats vs Australia:

By 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)*

"Yeah, I think one of those, because I was bowling to one of the best players in the world. So I was really happy that today really came off really nice. Yes, the good thing, I saw the boundary, it was in my favour. So I just had to use the boundary and the wicket was really slow as well. So I just had to adjust. Yes, but I also believe that everyone really bowled well. And everyone else, you know, came in for the team. So yes, we missed Rich, but Brad really bowled well aswell. Especially when you're tall, it's sometimes really hard to really know that Yorker, but sometimes you just try and look for whatever is working on the day. Yes, it's really good, but it's also nice to qualify. So we'll be thinking about the next step," here's what Muzarabani said while collecting his award.

The stands at the RPS are a sea of red and gold. Zimbabwean flags wave wildly, drums beat in rhythm, and a stunned pocket of Australian supporters sit motionless, struggling to process what has just unfolded.

Put in to bat, Zimbabwe grafted their way to 169 for 2- a total that looked competitive rather than commanding. But it proved more than enough. Australia were rolled for 146, handing Zimbabwe a stirring 23-run victory that will be remembered for years.

The tone was set early by Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans. Relentless with the new ball, they tore into Australia’s top order. Josh Inglis perished trying to take on the short ball, Cameron Green and Tim David fell without scoring, and Travis Head dragged one back onto his stumps. At 29 for 4, Australia were in disarray.

There was resistance. Glenn Maxwell and Matt Renshaw stitched together a 77-run stand that briefly shifted the mood. Maxwell’s invention and Renshaw’s composure revived hopes of a comeback. When Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza left the field battling cramps, the momentum appeared to tilt further.

But Zimbabwe refused to yield. Ryan Burl delivered a pivotal over, clean bowling Maxwell just as the game threatened to slip. Marcus Stoinis, who had battled an injury scare earlier, couldn’t provide the late surge. The required rate ballooned, panic crept in, and wickets followed in clusters.

Renshaw fought gamely for his 65, but the closing act belonged once again to Muzarabani and Evans, who returned to shut the door.

This was no fluke. Zimbabwe read the pitch shrewdly, executed their plans with discipline, and outplayed a heavyweight opponent in every phase. On a jubilant day in Colombo, they not only claimed two crucial points- they have authored one of the finest wins in their cricketing history.

Zimbabwe have stunned the former champions by 23 runs.

Australia need 24 runs in 4 balls.

Blessing Muzarabani caps off a superb spell with his fourth wicket and a landmark moment. He keeps it full and straight at the stumps. Adam Zampa shuffles across, exposing his leg stump, but can’t get his bat down in time to the yorker.

The ball sneaks through and crashes into the base of leg stump. Muzarabani is chuffed to bits, that’s his 100th T20I wicket.

Zampa departs for 2 off 2, and Zimbabwe tighten their grip even further.

Blessing Muzarabani has his third, and he celebrates with a thunderous roar. Zimbabwe are treating this like business as usual.

Matt Renshaw tries to back away to a length ball angling in, looking to create room. But it comes off the toe end and balloons high into the night sky. It never has the distance to clear the infield, and Ryan Burl settles under it at mid-off to complete a comfortable catch.

Renshaw’s fighting knock ends on 65 off 44 balls (5 fours, 1 six), and Australia lose another at a crucial stage.

Australia need 34 runs from 12 balls. Netherland missed closing out on a game they should have won. Now Zimbabwe in a similar position. Can they win it from here?

Brad Evans hits a hard length outside off and tempts the big shot. Ben Dwarshuis goes through with the pull, sending it flat toward deep midwicket.

But this is all about the fielding. Tony Munyonga is already on the move, dives full stretch, and plucks out an absolute screamer. Given the stage of the game, it might even top the stunning effort from Brian Bennett in the previous match.

Zimbabwe have been electric in the field, and with this blinder, Australia slump to seven down. Dwarshuis falls for 6 off 7 balls.

Wow! Zimbabwe sense a win! What a match. Matt Renshaw and Ben Dwarshuis out in the middle but Australia only managed 7 runs off the 17th over.

Hamilton Masakadza earns a crucial wicket and Zimbabwe can start to believe. He spears it in full around leg, and Marcus Stoinis looks to flick it away. But he doesn’t quite get the timing right.

The ball carries tamely toward deep midwicket, where Tashinga Musekiwa runs in and completes a comfortable catch.

Stoinis departs for 6 off 4 balls (1 four), and the pressure tightens further on Australia.

Stoinis who had walked off with an injury during bowling is not only back but smashes the first ball he faces for a boundary. A reverse paddle past the keeper under pressure. What a shot to plat first ball.

14.2- OUT! Maxwell drags it on. Ryan Burl delivers a massive breakthrough. He tosses up a full ball wide of off, tempting the big shot, and Glenn Maxwell takes the bait. Looking to swing it through the off side, he gets a thick inside edge that crashes back onto the stumps.

A huge moment in the contest, the game swings again as Maxwell departs for 31 off 32 balls (1 four, 1 six).

These two are really turning it on here. First a SIX, then a FOUR off from the 14th over. It was Renshaw with those big hits. 12 runs coming off the over. Australia- 105/4 after 14 overs. but they STILL need 65 runs from 36 balls.

Boundary off the first ball off Cremer's third over allows Australia to fetch 10. They move to 93/4 from 13 overs. Glenn Maxwell- 30* off 28, Matt Renshaw- 34* off 27.

Current net run rate of 6.91; Required run rate of 10.87.

11.5- SIX! Just clears the fielder

Hamilton Masakadza floats it up full, and Glenn Maxwell frees his arms. He launches it straight back down the ground with trademark power.

There’s late drama in the deep, Dion Myers sprints to his left from long-on and leaps, grabbing at it high above his head. But he’s falling backwards, and his foot brushes the boundary rope. He even tries to parry it back into play on the way down, yet it’s already beyond him. Six runs and Maxwell survives a heart-in-mouth moment.

Australia need 103 runs in 60 balls. They are 67/4 after 10 overs but with Maxwell and Renshaw in the middle who are both capable of turning this game on its head.

8.6- FOUR! Graeme Cremer tosses it up, and Glenn Maxwell responds with a touch of class. He sinks low, waits for the ball to arrive, and then unfurls a perfectly controlled reverse sweep. It sails over backward point, lands safely, and skips away to the boundary. Good finish to the over for Australia who fetch 11 runs from it. AUS- 62/4 after 9 overs.

Graeme Cremer, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack for Zimbabwe.

And now Sikandar Raza is going off. He was set to bowl but seemingly had some problem with his leg. It looked like the umpires told him to leave so that the game carries on.

Australia find themselves at 51/4 after 8 overs. Glenn Maxwell batting on 9* off 14, Matt Renshaw on 13* off 11. They need 119 runs from 72 balls.

Dion Myers errs with a short and wide delivery, and Matt Renshaw is quick to cash in. He waits on it, opens the face late, and slices the cut behind square on the off side. Deep point gives chase to his right but is always playing catch-up as the ball skids away to the boundary.

Sikandar Raza who went for 13 runs in his first over, brings himself on. Australia- 42/4 after 7 overs. Glenn Maxwell- 8* off 11, Matt Renshaw- 6* off 8. 4 singles off the 7th over.

Australia- 38/4 at the end of the powerplay. Matt Renshaw- 4* off 5, Glenn Maxwell- 6* off 8. Blessing Muzarabani, 3 overs, 2 wickets for 12 runs.

Brad Evans is on fire in Colombo. He bends his back on a teasing length just outside off, and Travis Head goes pushing at it. There’s a faint inside edge onto the pads, and the ball trickles back onto the stumps. It just clips the base, enough to dislodge the bails.

Evans wheels away in celebration, breaking into a full-throated SIUUU in homage to Cristiano Ronaldo, as Zimbabwe tighten their grip on the contest.

Head departs for 17 off 15 balls (3 fours), and Australia are in deep early trouble.

Blessing Muzarabani continues to wreak havoc. He sticks to that uncomfortable, short-of-a-length line into the body, and it pays off again. Tim David tries to get inside the line and whip it over the infield, but the ball climbs on him quicker than expected.

All he can manage is a mistimed stroke that lobs toward short fine leg, where Graeme Cremer holds on to a sharp catch. Muzarabani leaps in celebration as Australia slump further, David departing for a two-ball duck.

Brad Evans strikes again and Australia are in early trouble. It wasn’t quite short enough for the cut, even though there was some width on offer. Cameron Green goes chasing it, attempting to slash a length delivery, but only manages a faint edge through to the keeper.

Tadiwanashe Marumani makes no mistake behind the stumps. Evans celebrates with a roar as his teammates swarm around him. Green departs for a two-ball duck and Zimbabwe tighten their grip early on.