Australia vs Zimbabwe, Match 19 Match Summary

Canada batting first - Over and out from Colombo, but the action ain't done yet! There are still two matches to go on this Friday and one of them has already begun, with Canada opting to bat against the United Arab Emirates in Delhi. Do hop in to that matchcentre for all the action. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Up to number 2! Zimbabwe move to second spot in the points table! What a feeling. One more win and they are into the Super Eights! Having defeated Australia, Zimbabwe will now back themselves to win at least one of their next two matches. They meet Ireland next, in Pallekele, on Tuesday, 17th February, 2026, in an afternoon clash (9.30 am GMT). As far as the Aussies are concerned, they might have felt that only Sri Lanka would be their issue in this group. All of a sudden, they could be a loss away from being relegated in the opening round. They meet Sri Lanka next, also in Pallekele, on Monday, 16th February, 2026, in an evening clash (1.30 pm GMT). Like Zimbabwe, they are also struggling with fitness issues, but unlike the Rhodesians, they are on the brink of elimination, if their cricket does not improve.

Only 13 able bodies in the squad - The victorious captain of Zimbabwe, SIKANDAR RAZA, is asked about his leg first. Raza replies saying that he has been here before. Adds that in Sri Lanka, this is not the first time it is happening with him. Raza goes on to say that in the pressure of the game, leading the side, workload and all, these things happen, but stresses that it is just a cramp and with a couple of days' rest, he should be fine. On the win, Sikandar says that he is feeling very proud to see how the team went about its business, watching from the sidelines. Stresses that a lot of it goes down to the culture they have built for the past few years. On the approach while batting, the skipper says that at 70-odd after 10 overs, he was happy. Details that someone said in the change room that 190 is on but he replied that if you look at 190 now, you will be 140 all out. So just go at 8s and 9s an over. SR explains that he has played enough games in Sri Lanka to know how the pitch behaves as the day goes on. Admits that 170 (actually 169) did look a bit short from the way they batted but lauds his bowlers for the way they bowled and came out firing, stating it amazing. On the injuries to players, Sikandar Raza informs that they have got only 13 able bodies in the squad. Details that he went down while Graeme Cremer also got a split webbing. He presumes that Zimbabwe are looking for replacements because ideally in these conditions, he opines that you need 15 fit bodies. On the team celebrating the win, Raza says that he will allow the players to enjoy, stating that they deserve to enjoy on this day. But adds that for him, Saturday is a travelling day and then they need to get back to business. Ends by saying that where Zimbabwe are is a great position but it does not guarantee anything, so the next game becomes very important for his side.

Need to go back to the 2023 blueprint - The skipper of Australia, TRAVIS HEAD, on being asked about his decision at the toss, replies saying that he and the management thought it was a good wicket. Hence, the decision to bowl. Adds that it did feel tacky at the start but the way it played after that, he felt that 169 was under par. However, Head adds that as it turned out, batting proved to be very difficult in the second innings. Credits Zimbabwe for batting well, keeping wickets in hand at the death. Though, he says that Australia would have taken the score of 169 at the halfway mark. On the feedback received from the bowlers during the innings break and also the batters who were out in the middle, Travis says that the feedback throughout was that it was a good wicket. Adds that the Aussies put themselves under pressure by losing too many wickets and despite having a partnership in the middle, it left them needing too much to do at the end. On injury worries in the camp, the skipper says that the team has been here before. Points out to the 2023 ODI World Cup where they had a few injured players but managed to get through. Adds that this team finds itself in the same position. TH goes onto say that in 2023, there were certain guys who took the team through. So, he ends by saying that this unit will go back to that blueprint and see how to get back to winning ways.

A real blessing for Zimbabwe! For his matchwinning spell of 4-0-17-4, Zimbabwe's BLESSING MUZARABANI has been adjudged the PLAYER OF THE MATCH. On his bowling spell, Muzarabani says that he was bowling to one of the best players in the world, so was really happy that it came out nicely from the hand. On needing to adjust from their match against Oman, Blessing says that the good thing was that the boundary size was in his favour. So, he adds, he just had to use that and further says that the wicket was slow as well. So, he says that he just had to adjust a litle bit. On missing his bowling partner, Richard Ngarava, BM believes that Brad Evans bowled really well and everyone else came up for the team too. Blessing Muzarabani stresses that they bowled as a unit. On his attempt at bowling yorkers, Muzarabani smiles and says that when you play, it becomes really hard to understand what is a good length. On this historic win, Blessing agrees that it feels really good to beat Australia but quickly adds that it will be really nice to qualify (for the Super Eights). So, he ends by saying that the players will be thinking about the next game now.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Make the best of what you got - What a day for Zimbabwe. Started the day losing Brendan Taylor and then midway through the chase, lost their captain too, for the match. But they rallied around one another and gave it their all. Zimbabwe batted with discipline to not throw their wickets away while with the ball, bowled with fire. Brian Bennett showed up with the bat but the bowling was a total team effort. Barring that one stand between Maxwell and Renshaw, they had their foot on Australia's throat always. If it was the three musketeers against Oman, two of those stepped up again - Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans - sharing 7 wickets between themselves, but crucially, removing the top four Aussie batters inside 5 overs. Please stay tuned for the presentation.

Where is that big-hitting lineup? A lot has been hyped about Australia and their ability to clear the field with big sixes. But those batters have simply not turned up in this event so far. Yes, they have been hampered by injuries but the batting woes are a big concern. Just like the bowling, Powerplay hurt them with the bat as well. They were down and out at 29/4 inside the 5th over and had it not been for a fighting partnership of 77 between Matt Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell, this could have been even more embarassing. Factor this - only three batters managed to reach double figures. Renshaw fought hard for his 65 but ran out of partners.

Was chasing the right option? A lot will be talked about Travis Head's decision at the toss. This being a day game, a slow pitch, should he have chosen to bowl? He probably chose to bowl given the early moisture on the surface. But the Aussies struggled in the Powerplay, spraying the new ball to all parts. In fact, they struggled throughout their innings, picking up only 2 wickets in the entire part! They clearly struggled with the heat and humidity, not able to land the ball consistently at all. Australia did come back towards the end of the first innings though. The last 6 overs went for just 51 runs and they would have been happy heading into the innings break chasing a target of 170, as at one stage, 200 seemed to be on the cards.

Zimbabwe - 2, Australia - 0! The entire Zimbabwean team is cheering and celebrating as one. What a piece of history in their cricket. They beat Australia in the 2007 World Cup. They have beaten Australia again, 19 years later.  So in the history of Men's T20 World Cups, Zimbabwe lead Australia 2-0! Batted well, bowled with fire and whether this is an undermanned Aussie team or not, does not matter. What matters is - Group C is alive and kicking, becoming the second group of death!

OUT! KUHNEMANN IS RUN OUT! Full and straight, Kuhnemann misses his flick and is hit on the pads. The ball balloons towards the bowler. Meanwhile, Kuhnemann is looking for the single and is forced to stop short. But is too late. The bowler has an under-arm shy at the striker's end and hits the stumps! The run out appeal is referred upstairs, with Kuhnemann looking to go back, but the replay finds him short. ZIMBABWE BEAT AUSTRALIA BY 23 RUNS and history is repeated!

Direct hit! Is this the end of the game? It has been referred upstairs. Yup, it is!

Slower ball, comes out as a full toss, wide outside off, Ellis throws his bat at it and slices it over cover for a single.

FOUR! Runs away fine. On a length, around middle and off, Nathan Ellis swings hard but is early into his shot. Gets a massive inside edge which races past the leg stump to the fine leg fence.

Matthew Kuhnemann is the last batter in, replacing Adam Zampa.

OUT! BOWLED! Zampa walks well across his stumps and Muzarabani fires a full toss at the middle and leg line. Zampa misses his flick and the ball hits the timber. 100TH T20I WICKET FOR MUZARABANI and he now has 7 wickets in the tournament. Additionally, 4/17 are his best bowling figures in T20Is!

Landed outside off, pretty fulll, Adam Zampa backs away and then throws his bat at it. Gets a thick outside edge which is stopped with a bit of a fumble by Graeme Cremer at deep third. Two runs taken. 29 more needed from 7 balls.

8 balls still left in this game. Australia will do well to understand that they need to play out their 20 overs at least, just in case net run rate comes into the equation at a later stage. Try and get as close to 150 as possible. Adam Zampa walks in next, at number 10, replacing Matt Renshaw.

OUT! CAUGHT! Renshaw falls and that should be it for this match. Slower ball, on a length, outside off, Matt Renshaw backs away to the leg side and looks to slog but only gets a massive top edge. The ball goes high in the air and Ryan Burl runs in from cover to take a pretty decent catch. End of a fighting knock from Renshaw but the writing is on the wall for the Aussies. From 106/4, they have slipped to 139/8! Equation - 31 runs, 8 balls!

On middle and leg, dropped short, Renshaw pulls it through square leg for a couple.

Gold dust. Dot ball. On a length, around middle and off, Matt Renshaw backs away and looks to slash but misses.

Around off, chipped wide of the bowler, to his left, for a single.

Blessing Muzarabani returns. 3-0-12-2 so far.

FOUR! WHACK! Full and outside of, Renshaw hammers this straight back past the bowler for a boundary down the ground. Long off is nowhere near the ball. Just 7 from the over with a wicket. Brad Evans' bowling figures read 3-0-18-3!

On middle and off, pushed towards cover for a run.

Nathan Ellis walks in next, at number 9, replacing Ben Dwarshuis.

OUT! STUNNING CATCH! It may or may not be the catch of the tournament but it certainly has hammered a nail on Australia's chances. On middle and leg, Dwarshuis stays back and swings hard. Connects well too, but does not get much elevation. The ball goes flat and is flying, but there is a Superman present at deep mid-wicket. Tony Munyonga charges to his right and flies parallel to the ground, diving spectacularly to grab a blinder! The Zimbabweans are cock-a-hoop and the victory line keeps getting closer. From 106/4, AUSTRALIA ARE NOW 131/7! Equation - 39 runs, 14 balls!

Very full, around middle and off, Renshaw drives it down the ground and the fielder from long on charges in, knowing the game situation. Prevents the second and keeps the batters to just a single. 39 more needed from 15 balls.

Full and straight, from around the wicket, Matt Renshaw looks to swing but misses and is hit on the pads. The bowler appeals for LBW but the umpire moves away. The wicketkeeper signals that it was heading down the leg side.

Full and straight, Ben Dwarshuis drives it straight back past the bowler for a single down to long on.