COLOMBO: 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.
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.
In the only other previous T20 World Cup game between the two nations, Zimbabwe defeated Australia by five wickets in 2007.
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.
