Zimbabwe 169 for 2 (Bennett 64*, Marumani 35, Burl 35, Green 1-6) beat Australia 146 (Renshaw 65, Muzarabani 4-17, Evans 3-23) by 23 runs
Muzarabani took 4 for 17 from four overs, ripping out the top order alongside Evans in the powerplay – Evans took 3 for 23 – as Australia never really looked close to chasing Zimbabwe’s impressive 169 for 2 down that had been set up by even contributions from the top four on a slow pitch.
Zimbabwe are now on the verge of qualifying for the Super Eight stage, while Australia must defeat both Sri Lanka and Oman in Pallekele to ensure safe passage through to the next phase.
Marumani quick off the blocks
Marumani hit the accelerator up front, thumping 35 off 21 to offset a slow start by Bennett.
Bennett and Burl bat sensibly
Zimbabwe were 79 for 1 at the halfway stage and there was discussion in the dressing room of 190 being on the cards. But Sikandar Raza recalled the experience of the 2025 tour to Sri Lanka and called for steady heads. A message was sent out to Bennett and Burl to play with control.
They neutralised Adam Zampa, who had done so much damage against Ireland. Bennett cut him neatly behind point to find the rope after biffing Dwarshuis down the ground. Burl switch-hit Matt Kuhnemann over point but otherwise they kept the ball on the ground and played smartly. Bennett raised his tenth T20I half-century, and his first in a World Cup, off 43 balls.
Burl did more damage than just the 35 off 30. A fierce straight drive hit Stoinis on the hand and took him out of the attack after just 2.5 overs when he had been Australia’s best bowler. It also affected Stoinis’ batting later on. Burl fell next ball to Cameron Green. But it brought in Raza, whose late innings flurry was vital. He smashed two fours and a six off the last ball of the innings to make 25 not out off 13 to post an impressive total of 169 for 2.
The Blessing and Brad show
While Australia took just two wickets in 20 overs, they lost four in 4.3 of the chase as Muzarabani and Evans ran through them with disciplined line and length bowling and excellent field placement. Muzarabani used his extra height and bounce to have both Josh Inglis and Tim David caught while cramped trying to pull. Inglis holed out in the deep while David, on return from injury, spooned a catch to short fine for a second-ball duck. That followed Green’s second-baller off Evans after he edged behind trying to square drive on the up to a ball that skidded through on a tight line. Travis Head was well held at the other end with Evans giving him no width from around the wicket. Eventually Head tried to drive on the up only to get a thick inside edge that ran off his pad back onto the stumps.
Renshaw and Maxwell can’t salvage it
Renshaw, meanwhile, picked up where he left off against Ireland playing with control and placement, mixing sweeps and drives to accumulate at a strike rate of 147.72 in challenging conditions. The pair’s 77-run stand was broken when a tired Maxwell dragged Burl on to the stumps. Stoinis holed out shortly after, clearly inhibited by his injured hand. Munyonga then took a screamer at deep midwicket to remove Dwarshuis. Renshaw’s first T20I half-century was in vein and all Australia hopes were extinguished when he was deceived by a brilliant Muzarabani slower ball only to sky a catch to mid-off in the 19th over. Muzarabani hit the base of Nathan Ellis leg stump to bag a fourth before Kuhnemann was run out by Evans in the final over to spark huge celebrations by the Zimbabwe team and fans in the stands.
Alex Malcolm is an associate editor at ESPNcricinfo
