Blessing Muzarabani stood up under pressure and won the game for his side to make it 2 wins out of 2 for Zimbabwe. Blessing Muzarabani picked up wickets in powerplay and at the end as his 4-wicket haul ably assisted by Brad Evans’ 3-wicket haul overshadowed Matt Renshaw’s 65 runs off 44 balls. Zimbabwe batted first and on the back of a patient half-century from Brian Bennett they posted 169/2 with others around him making meaningful contributions.
In reply, Blessing Muzarabani ripped apart the Australian top order alongside Brad Evans even as Matt Renshaw tried his best and scored 65 off 44 balls while Maxwell made 31 but it was a bridge too far for Australia as they were 29/4 inside 5 overs and did well to recover but fall short at 146 losing the match by 23 runs as Australia slips to 3rd in the points table.
Brian Bennett’s Patient Unbeaten 64 helps Zimbabwe post a competitive 169/2.Â
Put into bat first, Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani came out to open for Zimbabwe while Ben Dwarshuis had ball in hand for Australia. The duo took their time in the initial overs and then decided to take on the Australian bowling. It was not an all out assault as it was a steady start with Zimbabwe looking to keep wickets in hand as the aim. Zimbabwe scored 47/0 in 6 overs of powerplay.
They carried on into the middle phase of the game as the duo put on 61 for the first wicket. Marumani was the aggressor of the two while Bennett played second fiddle throughout. Marumani’s innings was cut short at the score of 61 when he fell for 35 off 21 balls with 7 fours to his name to Marcus Stoinis. Ryan Burl came out to bat next. Burl and Bennett then forged a partnership of note as well.
Both players complimented each other really well. After 10 overs, Zimbabwe were 79/1 at the halfway stage of the game. The duo carried on batting and batted to ace the middle phase as well. The score was 125/1 in 15 overs. The platform was set for a big finish. Then Marcus Stoinis got injured and hurt his hand to go off the field injured. Cameron Green came to complete the over and got a wicket. The duo of Burl and Bennett put on 70 for the second wicket before Burl fell for 35 off 30 balls with 4 fours to his name. The score was 131/2 in 16 overs when captain Sikandar Raza came to the middle.
Zimbabwe needed the finishing kick but they were not getting it to the level they wanted from Bennett. Australia bowled decently and pegged things back at the end overs. But Raza was there and ready to provide the late flourish for the Chevrons. Raza is the finisher and played the role of it as he hit a few lovely boundaries while Bennett was holding one end up after scoring fifty.
Raza finished things off in style with the first maximum of the game and innings as Zimbabwe ended with a respectable 169/2 in 20 overs. Bennett was unbeaten on 64 off 56 balls with 7 fours to his name while Raza was unbeaten on 25 off 13 balls with 2 fours and one six to his name. 10 extras given by the fielding side.
Australia could manage to pick up 2 wickets only in the whole innings. Marcus Stoinis finished with 1/17 in 2.5 overs. Cameron Green finished with 1/6 in 1.1 over. Ben Dwarshuis finished with 0/40 in 4 overs. Glenn Maxwell bowled an over for 14 runs. Matthew Kuhnemann finished with 0/24 in 3 overs. Nathan Ellis finished with 0/34 in 4 overs. Adam Zampa finished with 0/31 in 4 overs. This meant Australia’s target was 170 runs to win off 20 overs.
Blessing Muzarabani’s 4-wicket haul helps Zimbabwe outclass Australia by 23 runs.Â
Chasing 170 for the win, keeper batter Josh Inglis and Travis Head came out to bat for Australia while captain Sikandar Raza had ball in hand for Zimbabwe. The openers attacked Raza by getting 13 runs off the first over. But the opening partnership lasted 13 only for the first wicket before Inglis fell for 8 off 4 balls with one six to his name as Blessing Muzarabani got his first wicket. Cameron Green came out to bat next.
Head continued to attack the opposition but the duo added 11 runs for the second wicket before Green fell for a silver duck to Brad Evans. Tim David came out to bat next. David on his comeback did not last long as he too fell for a silver duck to Muzarabani. Glenn Maxwell came out to bat next. Just 4 runs were added to the tally before Head chopped onto the stumps for 17 off 15 balls with 3 fours to his name to Brad Evans. Australia were 29/4 in 4.3 overs. The powerplay score was 38/4 in 6 overs.
Maxwell and Renshaw built up a solid partnership as they had to rebuild proceedings for Australia. To their credit they tried and did a fine job to say the least. They played the next 4 overs and took the score to 67/4 in 10 overs at the halfway stage as they needed 103 off 60 balls. But the fight carried on for Australia as they were not going to go down without a fight and Zimbabwe were hanging in there with them. The middle phase went decently for Australia but the required rate was climbing up every minute.
Maxwell played second fiddle while Renshaw was the star as he turned it on for Australia. The partnership was worth 77 off 59 balls with Renshaw scoring bulk of the runs. In the 15th over the partnership was broken as Maxwell fell for 31 off 32 balls with one four and one six to his name to Ryan Burl as he was cleaned up. Marcus Stoinis came out to bat next and got off the mark with a boundary. Renshaw and Stoinis added 11 runs to the tally before Stoinis fell for 6 off 4 balls with one four to his name to Wellington Masakadza
Ben Dwarshuis came out to bat as Australia felt the pressure now. Renshaw kept the fight going and it was a lone fight from the southpaw as he was running out of partners. The duo added 14 runs for the 7th wicket before Dwarshuis fell for 6 off 7 balls to Evans. Nathan Ellis came out to bat next. Then the last nail in the coffin came where Renshaw got out after a fabulous innings. Just 8 runs added to the tally before Renshaw fell for 65 off 44 balls with 5 fours and one six to his name to Muzarabani.
Adam Zampa came out to bat next. The writing was on the wall now. Just 2 runs were added to the score before Zampa fell for 2 off 2 balls to Muzarabani. Matthew Kuhnemann came to the middle next. Ellis managed to get a boundary away. 5 runs were added to the tally before Kuhnemann was run out by Evans for a golden duck. Australia were bowled out for 146 in 19.3 overs. 4 extras given by the fielding side.
Blessing Muzarabani was the pick of the bowlers for Zimbabwe with figures of 4/17 in 4 overs. Brad Evans finished with 3/23 in 3.3 overs. Wellington Masakadza finished with 1/36 in 4 overs. Ryan Burl finished with 1/9 in 1 over. Sikandar Raza bowled 2 overs for 17 runs. Dion Myers bowled an over for 9 runs. Graeme Cremer finished with 0/33 in 4 overs. So, Zimbabwe upset Australia by 23 runs to go second in Group B. Australia slips to 3rd. Blessing Muzarabani was awarded the Player of the Match Award.
What Lies Ahead.Â
So, Zimbabwe have done it and have upset the Aussies by 23 runs. They will next face Ireland and then face Sri Lanka as well. Australia will have to re-group and come back because they will next play on Monday night in Pallekele against co-hosts Sri Lanka in Group B game and then play Oman on 20th at the same venue. Plenty of action to come in Group B as well.
More action to come this Friday as associates take over the proceedings. Canada taking on UAE in New Delhi in a Group D game and then later on in Chennai it will be USA taking on Netherlands at 7 PM IST in Group A game. So, a lot to look forward to for us.
Also Read:Â ICC T20 WC 2026: Zimbabwe Pacers Rattle Australia With Early Wickets.