Brad Evans celebrates after ending off the sport. Photograph: ICC
COLOMBO:
Zimbabwe beat a depleted Australia by 23 runs on Friday in Colombo to tug off the largest shock of the T20 World Cup to date.
After posting 169-2 of their 20 overs, thanks primarily to Brian Bennett’s stylish 64 not out, Zimbabwe had Australia 29-4 earlier than dismissing them for 146 in 19.3 overs.
The Zimbabweans, ranked eleventh had been all the time in management in opposition to their second-ranked opponents within the Group B recreation at R. Premadasa Stadium after opening bowlers Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans ripped out Australia’s high order.
There have been sensational scenes on the venue as a gaggle of Zimbabwe followers dressed of their workforce jerseys celebrated the win with a standard dance.
“It’s a big win for us,” stated Bennett.
“There are followers who’ve come all the way in which from Zimbabwe and so they have loved the sport and it’s a particular feeling at present to get a win right here.”
Muzarabani was the choose of the bowlers ending with 4-17.
“I used to be actually blissful that at present actually got here off,” stated Muzarabani, who was named participant of the match.
“I additionally imagine that everybody actually bowled effectively. We missed Richi (Ngarava), however Brad (Evans) actually bowled effectively.
The following step
“It is actually good to beat Australia, however it’ll even be good to qualify for the Tremendous Eights. So we’ll be enthusiastic about the subsequent step.”
Australia retained hope of a rearguard victory when Glenn Maxwell and Matt Renshaw placed on 77 for the fifth wicket.
However as soon as part-time leg-spinner Ryan Burl induced one of many brief recreation’s nice gamers, Maxwell, to pull on to his stumps for 31, they had been by no means within the hunt and tumbled from 106-4 to 146 all out.
Opening batsman Bennett’s unbeaten 64 off 56 balls was an train in managed aggression as he hardly ever went the aerial route and located the boundary seven instances.
It was the 22-year-old’s tenth half-century in T20 internationals.
“It was the kind of wicket you need to do the onerous yards,” stated Bennett.
Zimbabwe thrashed Oman of their opener and their final two group video games will likely be in opposition to Eire and Sri Lanka.
Co-hosts Sri Lanka have additionally gained each their matches to date.
“We’re in an excellent place to go to the subsequent spherical having gained two out of two,” stated Bennett.
Ryan Burl and Bennett placed on 70 for the second wicket, a file stand for Zimbabwe in T20 World Cups after a gap partnership of 61 with Tadiwanashe Marumani.
Australia beat Eire on Wednesday, however with matches to return in opposition to Sri Lanka and Oman, one other defeat may see them on the airplane residence after the group stage.
With out their captain Mitchell Marsh for the second match, and the beforehand dominated out tempo spearheads Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Australia’s marketing campaign within the 20-nation match is in peril of falling aside on the first hurdle.
The previous champions had been left with extra to fret as Marcus Stoinis was struck on his left palm trying a return catch midway by means of his third over.
The all-rounder was accompanied off the sector in ache. He did come out to bat however scored solely six.
“Stoinis was going to bat larger and him not having the ability to bat larger was a blow,” stated Renshaw, who high scored with 65.
“Medical employees will look at how dangerous is his harm. We weren’t adequate at present.
“There’s time for aptitude in T20 cricket.
“We needed to rebuild,” he added. “However we saved dropping wickets at common intervals. It wasn’t our day and we’re bitterly disillusioned.”
The one brilliant spot was energy batter Tim David being named within the workforce after lacking the Eire win.
However he made a two-ball duck in his first recreation since struggling a hamstring harm within the Large Bash League on December 26.
