In a shocking upset at the T20 World Cup 2026, Zimbabwe pulled off a stunning 23-run victory over powerhouse Australia in Colombo. The match at R Premadasa Stadium on Friday turned heads worldwide, with the underdogs defending a competitive total to climb the Group B standings.
Sachin Tendulkar, the legendary Indian cricketer, couldn’t hold back his admiration for Blessing Muzarabani, whose name truly became a ‘blessing’ for his team. Taking to X, Tendulkar posted, ‘This is a statement win for Zimbabwe. Beating Australia by 23 runs shows incredible fighting spirit. Blessing lived up to his name with a brilliant 4/17. The tournament is getting thrilling!’
Zimbabwe set the tone by posting 169/2 in their 20 overs, powered by Brian Bennett’s unbeaten 64 off 56 balls. Ryan Burl and Tadiwanashe Marumani chipped in with 35 each, laying a solid foundation on a balanced pitch.
Australia faltered in the chase, crumbling to 146 all out in 19.3 overs. Matt Renshaw fought valiantly with 65 off 44, including six boundaries, while Glenn Maxwell added 31. But Muzarabani’s fiery spell dismantled the Aussie batting lineup.
Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin lauded Zimbabwe’s fielding efforts, particularly Tony Munyonga’s heroics. ‘Their batting and bowling were top-notch, but fielding put immense pressure. Munyonga saved 12-15 runs and sealed it with a stunning catch at deep mid-wicket,’ Ashwin noted, highlighting how well-sized grounds bring out true cricketing skills.
With back-to-back wins, Zimbabwe now sits second in Group B, while Australia drops to third after their first loss. This result underscores the unpredictability of T20 cricket, where minnows can topple giants on their day.