Australia vs Zimbabwe LIVE Score, T20 World Cup 2026: Australia Begin Chase After Losing Another Star To Injury

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 ...

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 swings 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 - Bul 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's 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.

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!

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.