Zimbabwe pulled off a massive upset by defeating Australia by 23 runs in the 2026 T20 World Cup. This win keeps Zimbabwe’s perfect record against Australia in this tournament alive. They first beat the cricket giants in 2007, and history repeated itself today in Colombo.
Zimbabwe batted first and scored a solid 169 for 2. Brian Bennett was the star with the bat. He played a calm and steady innings, scoring 64 runs without getting out. Captain Sikandar Raza also helped with a quick 25 runs near the end. The Australian bowlers struggled to take wickets on the slow pitch.
Zimbabwe vs Australia: World Cup History
| Detail | 2007 T20 World Cup | 2026 T20 World Cup |
| Winner | Zimbabwe (by 5 wickets) | Zimbabwe (by 23 runs) |
| Venue | Cape Town, South Africa | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Zimbabwe Score | 139/5 (19.5 overs) | 169/2 (20.0 overs) |
| Australia Score | 138/9 (20.0 overs) | 146/10 (19.3 overs) |
| Top Scorer | Brendan Taylor (60*) | Matt Renshaw (65) |
| Best Bowler | Gary Brent (3/21) | Blessing Muzarabani (4/17) |
| Player of the Match | Brendan Taylor | Blessing Muzarabani |
For many Indian fans, this result feels like a lucky charm. History shows that whenever Zimbabwe defeats Australia in a World Cup, India goes on to win the trophy. This happened during the 1983 ODI World Cup and again in the 2007 T20 World Cup. Both times, Zimbabwe shocked Australia early in the tournament, and India ended up as world champions.
Australia had a terrible start to their chase. They lost four wickets for only 38 runs during the first six overs. Blessing Muzarabani was the hero with the ball. He took four wickets and broke the heart of the Australian batting line-up. Matt Renshaw tried his best to save the game. He scored a brave 65 runs, but he did not get enough support from his teammates.
The African nation eventually bowled out Australia for 146 runs. This loss puts Australia in a difficult spot for the next round. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, celebrated a famous win that fans will remember for a long time.
