Australia vs Zimbabwe Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Zimbabwe stun Australia by 23 runs in Colombo

We are back for the chase! The camera is panning over Zimbabwe and we can see them forming a huddle. Raza has a few words for his teammates before they scatter to take their fielding positions. Josh Inglis and Travis Head will be the openers for Australia. It's Sikandar Raza who will start with the new ball. Let's play...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Zimbabwe on top? So, the Aussie batters have a task to chase 170 runs, which is not a very big score, but surely the Chevrons have some serious talent in their bowling lineup. The pitch doesn't really seem to offer much to the bowlers, however, we encountered some swing with the new ball, but after that, there were no movement on the ball. Stay tuned for the second inning to commence.

The final push from Raza and Bennett - Burl managed to find his array of strokes and by the 15th over, Zimbabwe found themselves at a solid 125 for 1. It was evident that the Aussies were intent on tightening their grip on the game. While they didn’t mind the singles and doubles, their bowlers focused on maintaining tight lines and lengths to limit boundary scoring. Green made a crucial impact by claiming a key wicket as he completed Marcus' over, stepping up impressively even after taking a hit to his left hand. Meanwhile, skipper Sikander Raza and Bennett remained resolute, steadily adding to the score and pushing Zimbabwe's total to 169 runs on the board.

From pressure to power - In the opening overs, the Chevrons' openers encountered a daunting challenge, but everything shifted after those first two overs. Marumani unleashed a series of powerful hits, significantly easing the pressure that had been mounting on them. Their remarkable partnership of 61 runs proved to be a game-changer, compelling the Aussies to make four bowling changes in the Powerplay, before Marcus Stoinis ultimately broke through and dismissed Marumani. Yet, in stepped Ryan Burl, who seamlessly took on the mantle, enabling Zimbabwe to forge another resilient partnership.

Just enough with the bat - 169 runs on the board is not a bad score from Zimbabwe, but surely skipper Sikandar Raza would have liked to add 10 or 20 runs more to the total as they had eight wickets left in hand. On the other hand, it was not the best of the days for the Aussies' bowling unit. They have only picked up 2 wickets in the entire first inning, and they were not very economical either.

Nathan Ellis to Sikandar Raza, SIX! TONK! Ellis misses his yorker and bowls a full toss down the leg side. Sikandar Raza gets down and just laps it casually over deep backward square leg, with the ball going all the way! ZIMBABWE END ON 169/2!

Nathan Ellis to Sikandar Raza, A short ball, around off, Sikandar Raza heaves it towards deep mid-wicket for a couple.

Nathan Ellis to Brian Bennett, Another slower ball, into the wicket, from around the wicket. Brian pulls it through mid on for a single.

Nathan Ellis to Brian Bennett, Excellent slower ball again. Brian backs away to the leg side and gets a ball wide outside off. He tries to reach out but cannot connect.

Nathan Ellis to Brian Bennett, Slower ball, 126.2 kph, into the wicket, outside off. Bennett leaps and slaps the pull over the bowler towards long off. Two runs taken.

Nathan Ellis to Brian Bennett, Slower ball, on a length, outside off, Brian Bennett gets across and looks to scoop but misses. The ball goes past the off stump.

Nathan Ellis will bowl the 20th over. 3-0-23-0 so far.

Adam Zampa to Sikandar Raza, A touch short, on middle, Sikandar goes back and works it through mid-wicket. Glenn Maxwell charges in from the deep but cannot stop the second run. 4-0-31-0 for Zampa, and Zimbabwe have efficiently nullified Australia's most experienced and best bowler with ease.

Adam Zampa to Brian Bennett, Full, around middle, Brian heaves it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Adam Zampa to Sikandar Raza, IN THE AIR... SAFE! Excellent bowling. Zampa tosses this nicely around middle, but gives no pace whatsoever. Raza gets down and goes for an almighty swing but only manages a top edge. It goes high in the air but Cameron Green coming in from long off cannot get there. A single taken.

Adam Zampa to Brian Bennett, Very full, on middle and leg, Brian Bennett gets down and sweeps it to deep mid-wicket where Glenn Maxwell keeps the batters to a run.

Adam Zampa to Sikandar Raza, Tossed up, outside off, pretty slow, Sikandar Raza waits for the ball and then thumps it towards long off for a single.

Adam Zampa to Sikandar Raza, Full, around off, swept through square leg for a couple.

Ellis for the 19th or 20th? The latter. Head is forced to go with Adam Zampa in the 19th over. 3-0-23-0 so far.

Ben Dwarshuis to Brian Bennett, FOUR! Salt on the wound. A short ball, from over the wicket, angling away, Bennett stays deep in his crease and slaps it over mid off! 15 from the over and Dwarshuis finishes with figures of 4-0-40-0! Also, the 150 IS UP FOR ZIMBABWE!

Ben Dwarshuis to Brian Bennett, DROPPED! Should have been taken. A short ball, outside off, Brian Bennett looks to pull but miscues it. Matthew Kuhnemann is stationed at deep mid-wicket but does not pick the trajectory of the ball. He starts to run to his left, before realizing late that he has to run forward. That delay costs him, as he does get to the ball with a dive but cannot hold on. Two runs taken.

Ben Dwarshuis to Sikandar Raza, Slower ball again, short in length this time, the skipper goes back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Ben Dwarshuis to Sikandar Raza, FOUR! THWACK! Second boundary of the over! Slower ball, around 105 kph, but Raza spots it. Waits for it to come and it arrives right in his arc. In the slot, half volley outside off and he blasts it over cover for a boundary.

Ben Dwarshuis to Sikandar Raza, Slower ball, on a length, around off, coming in with the angle, Raza swings with all his might, ending up nearly on his back, only to miss. Lost his shape there.

Adam Zampa to bowl out? Nope. Ben Dwarshuis has been given the 18th over! 3-0-25-0 so far.

Ben Dwarshuis to Sikandar Raza, FOUR! Poor return for Dwarshuis. From around the wicket, bowling it short, sliding it down the leg side with fine leg up. Sikandar Raza uses all the help and guides it deftly with a glance, to the right of short fine leg, to start the over with a boundary.

Nathan Ellis to Sikandar Raza, Full and around off, Sikandar drives it to the right of cover and gets a single. Excellent over from Ellis, just the 4 singles from it.

Nathan Ellis to Sikandar Raza, On a length, pretty straight, angling down the leg side, Raza looks to tuck it away but misses and is hit on the pads.

Nathan Ellis to Brian Bennett, Well bowled again, around the wide blockhole, outside off, Brian can only get it towards long on for one.

Nathan Ellis to Brian Bennett, Full and wide outside off, Bennett looks to reach out to stab it through the off side but misses.

Nathan Ellis to Sikandar Raza, On a length, outside off, Sikandar Raza punches it through point for a run.

Nathan Ellis to Brian Bennett, Full and wide outside off, Brian Bennett slaps it through the covers for a single.

Time for the big hitters to arrive. Skipper Sikandar Raza walks in next, at number 4, replacing Ryan Burl. Nathan Ellis returns as well. 2-0-19-0 so far.

Cameron Green to Ryan Burl, OUT! CAUGHT! Green comes as a red signal for Burl. A short ball, around off, Ryan Burl goes for the pull but the lack of pace does him in. He plays early and as a result, gets only a top edge. It goes straight up in the air, behind the keeper. Substitute Xavier Bartlett, who is on for Stoinis, gets across to his right from short third and takes it in front of the keeper who was running back for the catch as well. The 70-run stand has been broken but Burl has done his job.

The physio has been signalled for by Stoinis. He is in immense pain. In fact, Stoinis is going off the field. The injury woes for the Aussies continue. Now, they lose a bowler and a batter. Cameron Green will bowl the pending delivery. 1-0-6-0 so far.

Marcus Stoinis to Ryan Burl, DROPPED! But has Stoinis injured himself? A full toss, outside off, Burl hammers this straight back to the bowler who tries to catch it near his abdomen, but the ball hits his left palm and drops down. Stoinis immediately clutches his left hand in pain.

Marcus Stoinis to Ryan Burl, FOUR! THUNDEROUS! Serious power. Full and outside off, from around the wicket, Ryan Burl sets himself in the crease and with a steady head, drills it back over the bowler, for a boundary down the ground. The stand moves to 70 (49).

Marcus Stoinis to Brian Bennett, A low full toss outside off, swinging away, Bennett reaches out and drives it to sweeper cover for a run.

Marcus Stoinis to Brian Bennett, Excellent yorker, following the batter down the leg side. Brian Bennett tries to dig it out but is nutmegged.

5 overs left in the innings. Ellis has 2, Dwarshuis has 1 and Zampa has 1. Who will bowl the other? Marcus Stoinis has been given the ball. 2-0-11-1 so far.

Marcus Stoinis to Ryan Burl, On middle and leg, coming in, Ryan Burl looks to heave but gets it off the inner half of the bat to deep backward square leg for a single.

Adam Zampa to Ryan Burl, On middle and leg, worked through mid-wicket for one.

Adam Zampa to Brian Bennett, 50 FOR BRIAN BENNETT. His maiden T20 World Cup half century, that too, against Australia. Has taken 43 balls, but it is a moment to saviour. Gets there with a gentle nudge through mid on for a single.

Adam Zampa to Brian Bennett, FOUR! Nicely played. Fractionally short, around off, spinning away, Brian Bennett goes back and with good use of his wrists, guides the ball through point for a boundary. The stand moves to 62 (43).

Adam Zampa to Ryan Burl, Full and down the leg side, Ryan leans and clips it through mid-wicket. They take the single and Burl turns blind for the second but is sent back.

Adam Zampa to Ryan Burl, Very full, around middle and off, Burl digs it out back to the bowler.

Adam Zampa to Ryan Burl, Short, around middle, Ryan Burl works it towards short mid-wicket.

DRINKS BREAK. Zimbabwe have upped the ante here. The last 3 overs have gone for 31 runs and clearly, the intent is there to get as close to 200 as possible. The pitch does look very good to bat on, but Australia's honest assessment of their bowling would be average. The lines and lengths have just not been consistent and everyone has struggled to adapt on this surface. It might look a flat deck right now, but with the sun beating down hard, it could get very slow as the game progresses and then, we will go back to that call at the toss to bowl first. Adam Zampa returns. 2-0-16-0 so far.

Ben Dwarshuis to Brian Bennett, Outside off, Brian punches it through the covers. A usually fit Tim David would have dived to his left to stop the ball but given that he has just returned from an injury, he chooses not to dive and the ball goes through. By the time sweeper can mop it up to his right, two runs are taken. 12 from the over!