Zimbabwe deliver second T20 World Cup upset against Australia, 19 years after historic Cape Town heist

Blessing Muzarabani led the charge with a devastating four-wicket spell, while Brad Evans chipped in with three as Zimbabwe bowled Australia out for 146

Updated on: Feb 13, 2026, 15:13:08 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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Almost two decades after their Cape Town coup at the inaugural 2007 ICC T20 World Cup, Zimbabwe recreated history by stunning mighty Australia with a 23-run win in their Group B clash at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday.

Zimbabwe's Bradley Evans, right, celebrates the wicket of Cameron Green, left, during the T20 World Cup match against Australia in Colombo (AP)

It was the second major upset of the ongoing tournament, after football-frenzied Italy thrashed Nepal by 10 wickets in Mumbai on Thursday to mark a seismic moment in their brief international cricket history.

Blessing Muzarabani led the charge with a devastating four-wicket spell, while Brad Evans chipped in with three as Zimbabwe bowled Australia out for 146 with three balls remaining in the chase.

The two fast bowlers were relentless with the new ball. Josh Inglis was caught in the deep, while Cameron Green and Tim David fell for ducks. Travis Head dragged one back onto his stumps as Australia slumped to 29 for four.

AUS vs ZIM, T20 World Cup 2026: As it happened...

Glenn Maxwell and Matt Renshaw attempted to steady the innings, stitching together a 77-run stand for the fifth wicket. The partnership had commentators recalling Maxwell’s famous double century against Afghanistan in the 2023 ODI World Cup, which helped Australia, eventual champions, escape a shock defeat. Adding to Zimbabwe’s concerns, captain Sikandar Raza suffered cramps and hobbled off the field.

However, Ryan Burl, brought on in Raza’s absence, struck twice in the same over, dismissing Maxwell and then Marcus Stoinis. Renshaw, left to fight alone, waged a lone battle to stave off defeat, but Evans and Muzarabani returned to apply the finishing touches.

Earlier in the match, opener Brian Bennett struck a classy unbeaten 64, studded with seven fours, showcasing timing and placement over brute force, to power Zimbabwe to 169 for two. He was well supported by fellow opener Tadiwanashe Marumani (35) before adding a record 70-run stand with Ryan Burl (35).

It was Zimbabwe’s second win over Australia in T20I history in four meetings, the first coming in 2007 in Cape Town, where the African side triumphed by five wickets in a last-over thriller.

The victory also marked Zimbabwe’s second win of the tournament, following their opening triumph over Oman.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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