Biggest Upset in T20 World cup 2026! Zimbabwe crashes Australia by 23 runs
In what will undoubtedly go down as one of the most shocking moments in T20 history, Zimbabwe has defeated the mighty Australia by 23 runs in Match 19 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Entering the game with a meager 10% win probability compared to Australia’s 90%, the Chevrons defied every odd, every statistic, and every critic to defend a total of 169 at the Harare Sports Club.
The match, which began with Australian confidence high after winning the toss and electing to bowl, ended in despair for the men in yellow as they were bundled out for 146 in 19.3 overs. This victory is not just a win; it is a statement from African cricket to the world.
Match Summary: The David vs. Goliath Battle
The narrative before the first ball was simple: Australia would steamroll Zimbabwe. The live win probability heavily favored the Aussies. However, cricket is played on the field, not on paper.
| Match Details | Statistics |
| Match | Zimbabwe vs. Australia (T20 19 of 55) |
| Toss | Australia won the toss and opted to bowl |
| Zimbabwe Score | 169/2 (20 Overs) |
| Australia Score | 146/10 (19.3 Overs) |
| Result | Zimbabwe won by 23 Runs |
| Player of the Match | Brian Bennett (64*) |
Zimbabwe’s Innings: Calculated Aggression
Put into bat by the Australian captain, Zimbabwe needed a solid foundation, and they got exactly that. The hero of the first innings was Brian Bennett, who played an anchor role that allowed the hitters around him to flourish.
Bennett remained unbeaten on 64 runs from 56 balls, hitting 7 boundaries. He was supported brilliantly by Tadiwanashe Marumani, who set the tempo early with a blistering 35 off just 21 deliveries. The middle order capitalization was clinical, with Ryan Burl contributing a run-a-ball 35, and captain Sikandar Raza applying the finishing touches with an explosive strike rate of 192.31.
Zimbabwe Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Status | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
| Brian Bennett | not out | 64 | 56 | 7 | 0 | 114.29 |
| Tadiwanashe Marumani (Wk) | c Inglis b Stoinis | 35 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 166.67 |
| Ryan Burl | c sub b Green | 35 | 30 | 4 | 0 | 116.67 |
| Sikandar Raza (C) | not out | 25 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 192.31 |
| Extras | 10 | |||||
| Total | 169/2 | 20 Ov |
[Source Data: Screenshot 2026-02-13 at 3.11.20 PM.jpg]
The critical aspect of this innings was the preservation of wickets. Losing only two wickets in 20 overs allowed Zimbabwe to keep pressure on the Australian bowlers, who failed to find breakthroughs.
Australia’s Chase: A Top-Order Catastrophe
Chasing 170 to win is usually a walk in the park for a batting lineup featuring Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, and Cameron Green. However, the Zimbabwe bowlers had other plans. The Australian innings started disastrously and never fully recovered, despite a valiant middle-order rescue attempt.
The top order collapsed under the pressure of the chase and disciplined bowling. Josh Inglis fell cheaply for 8. Cameron Green and Tim David, two of the most dangerous hitters in the world, both departed for Ducks (0), leaving Australia reeling.
The Resistance: Renshaw and Maxwell
The only semblance of a fight came from Matt Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell. Renshaw played a sublime innings of 65 off 44 balls, striking 5 fours and 1 six. He tried to hold the innings together while Maxwell added 31 off 32. But once Ryan Burl removed both set batters, the tail was exposed to Zimbabwe’s seamers.
Australia Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal Mode | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Josh Inglis (Wk) | c Musekiwa b Muzarabani | 8 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 200.00 |
| Travis Head (C) | b Brad Evans | 17 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 113.33 |
| Cameron Green | c Marumani b Brad Evans | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Tim David | c Cremer b Muzarabani | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Glenn Maxwell | b Ryan Burl | 31 | 32 | 1 | 1 | 96.88 |
| Matt Renshaw | c Burl b Muzarabani | 65 | 44 | 5 | 1 | 147.73 |
| Marcus Stoinis | c Musekiwa b Masakadza | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 150.00 |
| Ben Dwarshuis | c Munyonga b Brad Evans | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 85.71 |
| Nathan Ellis | not out | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 175.00 |
| Adam Zampa | b Muzarabani | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Matthew Kuhnemann | run out (Brad Evans) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
[Source Data: Screenshot 2026-02-13 at 3.11.30 PM.jpg]
The Bowling Heroes: Evans and Muzarabani
While the batters set the total, it was the bowlers who defended it with heart. The scorecard reveals a tactical masterclass from the Zimbabwe attack.
- Blessing Muzarabani: The tall pacer was the destroyer-in-chief of the tail and the top order. He claimed the wicket of opener Josh Inglis and then returned to dismiss Tim David for a duck and Adam Zampa late in the game. His ability to extract bounce was unplayable.
- Brad Evans: The game-changer. Evans ripped through the Australian core. He bowled Travis Head, removed Cameron Green for zero, and dismissed Ben Dwarshuis. To top it off, he executed the run-out of Kuhnemann to seal the victory.
- Ryan Burl: Not content with just batting, Burl picked up the two most prized wickets: Glenn Maxwell and Matt Renshaw. Breaking that partnership was the turning point of the match.
Key Wicket Takers
| Bowler | Key Wickets Taken |
| Brad Evans | Travis Head, Cameron Green, Ben Dwarshuis |
| Blessing Muzarabani | Josh Inglis, Tim David, Adam Zampa |
| Ryan Burl | Glenn Maxwell, Matt Renshaw |
| Wellington Masakadza | Marcus Stoinis |
Conclusion: A Shift in Power?
The scoreboard reads Zimbabwe 169/2, Australia 146. But the story reads much deeper. This result throws Group B wide open. For Australia, it is a moment of introspection; their top order failed to fire, and their decision to bowl first on a wicket that clearly favored batting in the first innings backfired.
For Zimbabwe, this is a golden hour. Beating a powerhouse like Australia by a convinced margin of 23 runs boosts their Net Run Rate (NRR) significantly and puts them in serious contention for the Super 8s.
As the T20 World Cup 2026 continues, fans will look back at Match 19 as the day the underdogs didn’t just bark—they bit.
