02/13/26 04:25:00
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02/13 04:24 CST Australia suffers shock defeat by Zimbabwe at T20 World Cup
Australia suffers shock defeat by Zimbabwe at T20 World Cup
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) --- Zimbabwe caused the first major upset at the T20
Cricket World Cup with a surprise 23-run win against Australia on Friday.
Blessing Muzarabani grabbed 4-17 and Brad Evans picked up 3-23 as Australia was
bowled out for just 146 in 19.3 overs, suffering a first loss in Group B that
also features co-host Sri Lanka.
Matt Renshaw, playing in his first T20 World Cup, scored a fighting 65 off 44
balls and Glenn Maxwell hit 31 off 32 deliveries, but Muzarabani and Evans did
enough damage up front by claiming four wickets inside the power play to steer
Zimbabwe to a second successive victory in Group B.
Opening batter Brian Bennett had earlier anchored Zimbabwe's 169-2 with an
unbeaten 64 off 56 balls. Tadiwanashe Marumani (35) and Ryan Burl (35) also
made handy contributions while captain Sikandar Raza's late acceleration (25
off 13 deliveries) was crucial.
"I was bowling to some of the best players in the world, so I am really happy
it came off really nice," said Muzarabani, who also completed 100 wickets in
T20s. "Really good to beat Australia, but also (will be) nice to qualify, so
looking forward to the next game now."
In the only other previous T20 World Cup game between the two nations, Zimbabwe
defeated Australia by five wickets in 2007.
Australia was without captain Mitchell Marsh, sidelined for the second
successive game due to a testicular injury he picked up on the eve of the first
game against Ireland.
Makeshift opener Josh Inglis was caught off Muzarabani at deep backward square
leg before big-hitters Cameron Green and Tim David went for ducks.
Evans found the under edge of Green's bat and had him caught behind while David
--- playing his first game since a hamstring injury ruled him out of the Big
Bash League in late December --- pulled Muzarabani's short ball straight to
short fine leg.
Evans then got the prized wicket of stand-in captain Travis Head for 17, the
ball rolling back onto his stumps after deflecting off his pads when he tried
to drive a full-length delivery.
On a slow wicket where stroke-making was difficult, Maxwell and Renshaw rebuilt
Australia's chase with a 77-run partnership, but Zimbabwe didn't allow the
batters to break free and the asking rate soared.
With the pressure mounting, Maxwell played spinner Burl onto his leg stump in
the 15th over and Marcus Stoinis holed out in the outfield of Wellington
Masakadza before Muzarabani and Evans returned in the death overs to seal a
dream win.
Earlier, Marumani replaced the injured Brendan Taylor as opener and made an
aggressive start by hitting seven boundaries to help take Zimbabwe to 61-0 with
Bennett.
Stoinis broke through in the eighth over when Marumani was caught behind, as he
attempted another expansive cut, before Burl shared another 60-run stand with
Bennett.
Burl then top-edged Green to short third man after he stood in for Stoinis, who
had to go off after injuring his left hand while trying to hold onto a
difficult return catch off the same batter.
Raza hit the last ball for six over deep fine leg.
Later Friday
Four associate nations will be involved in the two other games on Friday.
Canada won the toss and chose to bat against United Arab Emirates in a Group D
game in Delhi.
The United States, which has already lost to India and Pakistan in Group A,
will meet the Netherlands in Chennai.
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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
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