T20 World Cup 2025/26, AUS vs ZIM 19th Match, Group B Match Report, 13 February 2026

Zimbabwe 169 for 2 (Bennett 64*, Marumani 35, Burl 35, Green 1-6) batting 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 showdown – Evans took 3 for 23 – as Australia never really looked close to chasing down Zimbabwe’s impressive 169 for 2 which was set up by equal contributions from the front four on a slow pitch.

Zimbabwe are now on course to qualify for the Super Eight stage, while Australia need to defeat both Sri Lanka and Oman in Pallekele to ensure safe passage to the next stage.

Marumani quickly off the blocks

Marumani hit the accelerator up front and smashed 35 off 21 to make up for a slow start by Bennett.

Bennett and Burl bat sensibly

Zimbabwe were 79 for 1 at the halfway stage and there was talk 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 firm heads. A message was sent out to Bennett and Burl to play with control.

They neutralized Adam Zampa, who did so much damage against Ireland. Bennett cut neatly behind the point to find the line after swinging Dwarshuis to the ground. Burl switched Matt Kuhnemann, but otherwise they kept the ball on the ground and played smart. Bennett brought up his tenth T20I half-century, and his first in a World Cup tournament, from 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 after just 2.5 overs when he was Australia’s best bowler. It also affected Stoinis’ batting later on. Burl next ball fell to Cameron Green. But it brought in Raza, whose late innings rush was vital. He hit two fours and a six off the last ball of the innings to make 25 not out from 13 and 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 fielding. Muzarabani used his extra length and bounce to catch Josh Inglis and Tim David as they struggled to pull. Inglis bowled in the deep while David, returning from injury, scooped a catch to short fine for a second-ball duck. It followed Green’s second bowler off Evans after he had driven back and tried to drive square on the upswing to a ball that slipped through on a tight line. Travis Head was well contained at the other end with Evans giving him no width from around the wicket. Finally, Head tried to drive up only to get a thick inside edge that went off his path back towards the stumps.

Renshaw and Maxwell can’t save it

Renshaw, meanwhile, picked up where he left off against Ireland playing with control and placement, mixing sweeps and drives to build up to a strike rate of 147.72 in challenging conditions. The pair’s 77-run stand was broken when a tired Maxwell dragged Burl to the stumps. Stoinis hollowed out soon after, clearly inhibited by his injured hand. Munyonga then took a screamer at deep mid-wicket to remove Dwarshuis. Renshaw’s maiden T20I half-century was in twenty and all Australia’s hopes were extinguished when he was deceived by a brilliant Muzarabani slower ball, only to take a catch to mid-on in the 19th over. Muzarabani hit the base of Nathan Ellis’ leg stump to claim 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.