Zimbabwe Shock Australia in Huge Upset at T20 World Cup

Zimbabwe 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.

The 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.

- News Agencies, Al Jazeera