Zimbabwe beat depleted Australia by 23 points in Colombo for biggest shock of this World Cup T20 World Cup So far.
On Friday, Zimbabwe reached 169-2 in 20 overs, largely thanks to Brian Bennett’s brilliant 64 not out, beating Australia 29-4 before dismissing Australia for 146 in 19.3 overs.
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11th-ranked Zimbabwe kept control of their second-ranked opponents in their Group B match at the R Premadasa Stadium, with opening bowlers Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans breaking Australia’s top spot.
At the scene, a group of Zimbabwean fans wearing team uniforms danced traditional dances to celebrate the victory, and the scene was very sensational.
Muzarabani was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 4-17.
Australia kept their hopes of victory alive at the back when Glenn Maxwell and Matt Renshaw put on 77 for the fifth wicket.
But they were never in the game again and fell from 106-4 to 146 all out when part-time leg-spinner Ryan Burl induced Maxwell, one of the best players in the short game, to drag one to his stumps for 31 runs.
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Opening batsman Bennett’s unbeaten 64 off 56 balls was an exercise in controlling the attack as he rarely took the aerial route and found the boundary seven times.
This is the 22-year-old’s 10th half-century in T20 internationals.
Bennett and Ryan Burl put on 70 for the second wicket, a Zimbabwe record in the T20 World Cup, after posting 61 with Tadiwanashe Marumani.
Zimbabwe defeated Oman in their opening match.
Australia defeated Ireland on Wednesday but with their next games against co-hosts Sri Lanka and Oman, another defeat could see them get on the plane home after the group stage.
Australia’s campaign in the 20-nation tournament is in danger of collapsing at the first hurdle without skipper Mitchell Marsh for the second game and previously excluded leaders Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
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The former champion had more to worry about as Marcus Stoinis took a hit on his left palm midway through the third round while trying to catch the ball.
The all-rounder left the field in pain and did come out to bat, but scored just six runs.
One bright spot, however, was power hitter Tim David being named to the squad after missing out on the Irish victory.
But he scored two goals in his first game since suffering a hamstring injury in the Big Bash League.
