Australia vs Zimbabwe T20 World Cup 2026 highlights: Zimbabwe upset Australia after 19 years at global stage in Colombo

Zimbabwe have created a few records during their win over Australia.

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has confirmed that Ben Curran has been named as a replacement for Brendan Taylor in Zimbabwe’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2026. Taylor has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament after sustaining a right hamstring injury during Zimbabwe’s opening match against Oman in Colombo on 9 February.

Following a medical assessment, it was determined that he will not recover in time to take any further part in the competition. The 29-year-old Curran, a left-handed top-order batter, has featured in eight Tests and eight One-Day Internationals for Zimbabwe and is yet to make his debut in the shortest format.

He joins the Zimbabwe squad in Sri Lanka on the back of an impressive run in domestic white-ball cricket. Interestingly, Ben's sibling Sam Curran is playing for England in the T20 World Cup 2026.

“Yeah, I think one of those, because I was bowling to one of the best players in the world. So I was really happy that today really came off really nice. Yes, the good thing, I saw the boundary, it was in my favour. So I just had to use the boundary and the wicket was really slow as well. So I just had to adjust. Yes, but I also believe that everyone really bowled well. And everyone else, you know, came in for the team. So yes, we missed Rich, but Brad really bowled well aswell. Especially when you're tall, it's sometimes really hard to really know that Yorker, but sometimes you just try and look for whatever is working on the day. Yes, it's really good, but it's also nice to qualify. So we'll be thinking about the next step.”

OUTTTT!!! Matthew Kuhnemann is run out in the final over as Zimbabwe beat Australia by 23 runs to win over their opponents at the world stage for the first time in 19 years. Australia are all out for 146, in reply to Zimbabwe's 169/2.

Australia need to smash a few balls into the stands. OUTTT!!! At a time when Matt Renshaw needed to fire, the left-hander departs. Blessing Muzarabani takes a wicket. Trying to go over mid-wicket, the ball its the toe-end of the Renshaw's bat and Ryan Burl takes a simple catch. That's the match for Zimbabwe. Renshaw departs for 65. BOWLEDD!! Muzarabani hits the leg stump of Adam Zampa to get hi 100th T20I wicket. He finishes with 4/17.

AUS 141/9 (19)

Its crunch time for both Australia and Zimbabwe. Australia need 41 runs in the final three overs. OUTTT!!! Sensational catch by Tony Munyonga. Absolute superman effort at the boundary. Ben Dwarshuis departs, as Brad Evans takes the wicket. Matt Renshaw finishes the over with a four. Australia need 34 in the last two overs.

AUS 136/7 (18)

OUTTT!!! Australia are sliding down as Marcus Stoinis holes out to Tashinga Musekiwa off the bowling of Wellington Masakadza. An upset win incoming for Zimbabwe. Ben Dwarshuis has joind Matt Renshaw in the middle. Can Zimbabwe upset Australia after 19 years?

AUS 122/6 (16)

OUTTT!!!!!! Ryan Burl has done what the doctor ordered. What a breakthrough for Zimbabwe. Glenn Maxwell goes for the hoick, gets an inside edge onto his stumps. Maxwell goes back for 32. Big wicket for Zimbabwe. Marcus Stoinis comes out to bat.

AUS 113-5 (14.5)

100 comes up for Australia in the 14th over after a boundary from Matt Renshaw. The dropped catch of Glenn Maxwell is hurting Zimbabwe. The fifth-wicket stand between Renshaw and Maxwell has gone to 76. Meanwhile, Sikander Raza is out on the field but he doesn't look 100% fit. Raza walks out again.

AUS 105/4 (14)

DROPPEDD!!! Big moment in the game for Zimbabwe and Australia. Glenn Maxwell smashes Wellington Masakadza over long on boundary. The fielder jumps, gets both hands on the ball but loses balance close to the ropes. Although he tries to push the ball back into the field, but ends up stepping on the ropes with the ball in contact.

AUS 83-4 (12)

Remember Glenn Maxwell's double hundred against Afghanistan in the 2023 ODI World Cup? Australia are in a similar kind of position today. From being at 91/7 that day, Maxwell's double hundred won Australia the game. Can he replicate that form today?

AUS 62-4 (9)

Looks like Sikander Raza has injured his hamstring. He stops on his bowling action and is down on the field. Looks like a bit of craps and the medical team is currently treating him in the middle. Raza is holding his shin and is wincing in pain. Australia need 119 runs in 72 balls. Raza gets up and is limping out of the ground with his shoe in hand.

Zimbabwe are in firm control against Australia. Australia have struggled prior coming to this tournament, losing to Pakistan in all three clashes. A loss today will dampen their chances to advance into the Super 8. The only time Zimbabwe defeated Australia in a T20 World Cup match was in 2007.

ZIM 51/4

Things have gone from bad to worse for Australia in their run chase against Zimbabwe. They have just lost Travis Head, their stand-in skipper. Head is cleaned up by Brad Evans.

AUS 34/4 (5 overs; Target 170)

Zimbabwe are off to a dream start against Australia. They have got three quick wickets, with Tim David the latest to be dismissed. David is caught by Graeme Cremer at short fine leg off Blessing Muzarabani's delivery.

AUS 28/3 (4 overs; Target 170)

Australia were off to a brisk start in the first over of the chase against Zimbabwe, but it hasn't been the same since. They first lost Josh Inglis, and now Cameron Green has made the long walk back to the pavilion.

AUS 25/2

Zimbabwe have their breakthrough as Blessing Muzarabani gets rid of Josh Inglis. Inglis looks for a pull shot over the leg side, but fails to get enough elevation. He is eventually caught by Tashinga Musekiwa.

AUS 19/1 (2 overs; Target 170)

Openers Josh Inglis and Travis Head have begun Australia's run chase. Head gets off the mark with a boundary, playing a drive through the offside for four runs.

A couple of balls later, Inglis joins the party, hitting a six over long-on, courtesy a slogsweep. Thirteen runs come from the first over of the chase.

AUS 13/0 (1 over; Target 170)

A total of 11 runs come off the final over of Zimbabwe's innings, bowled by Nathan Ellis. Sikandar Raza finished the innings on a high, by slamming a six over deep backward square leg to take Zimbabwe to 169/2. Australia need 170 runs to win.

Zimbabwe bring up their 150 with two overs to go. Sikandar Raza has already settled in for the African side after having hit two boundaries. He is not out on 11 runs from seven balls with Brian Bennett (59*) at the other end.

ZIM 150/2 (18 overs)

Australia have suffered a fresh setback as Marcus Stoinis has suffered an injury and has walked off the field. Stoinis was bowling the 16th over of the innings when he injured his thumb. Cameron Green completed the over.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe have lost another wicket, with Ryan Burl being dismissed by Cameron Green.

ZIM 134/2 (16.4 overs)

Brian Bennett has scored a half-century to put Zimbabwe in command against Australia. He gets to the milestone in 43 balls, hitting six fours in the process.

ZIM 131/1 (15.5 overs)

Just one boundary from Ben Dwarshuis' over, but 12 runs come from it. Both Brian Bennett and Ryan Burl have so far showcased excellent running between the wickets. The partnership between the two is now 57 runs from 39 balls.

ZIM 118/1 (14 overs)

Ryan Burl and Brian Bennett have led Zimbabwe's recovery following the dismissal of Tadiwanashe Marumani. The partnership between the two is now more than 50 runs. Bennett, in particular, looks in good touch and looks set to score a fifty. He is currently not out on 43.

ZIM 114/1 (13.4 overs)

OUTTT!!!! Marcus Stoinis draws first blood for Australia, his 50th in the format. Tadiwanashe Marumani, who was dropped on the first ball of the over, tries to make room in the second ball and gives a thick edge to wicketkeeper to Josh Inglis.

ZIM 66-1 (8)

Fifty partnership comes up for Zimbabwe with a four off Brain Bennet off Adam Zampa. Four more towards the fine leg boundary off the bat of Tadiwanashe Marumani. Street smart cricket from the left-hander.

ZIM 57/0 (7)

So far so good for Zimbabwe in the powerplay. The openers have been brilliant with the bat, as Australia looked clueless. Both Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani look settled in the middle.

ZIM 47/0 (6)

Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani have give Zimbabwe a flying start after been asked to bat first. In fact, Marumani went brutal against Glenn Maxwell, smashing the spinner for three fours in an over.

ZIM 31/0 (4)

Travis Head and Sikander Raza walk out for the toss. Australia win the toss and opt to bowl. The good news for Australia is that Tim David is back. Cooper Connolly is also out. David and Ben Dwarshuis make their way into playing XI. Zimbabwe have aldo made two changes. Brendan Taylor has been ruled out of the competition while Richard Ngarava has been rested as a precautionary measure. Tony Munyonga and Greame Creamer are in.

Australia have been hit by injuries. After Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were ruled out, more misery waited Australia as regular captain Mitchell Marsh sustained another injury while training. He will miss against Zimbabwe as well.

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the Australia vs Zimbabwe in group B from Colombo.