Zimbabwe Stuns Australia as T20 World Cup Delivers a Day of Upsets and Milestones

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 served up a dramatic and unpredictable day of cricket on Friday, with Zimbabwe’s stunning victory over Australia headlining three high-intensity group matches that reshaped standings and tightened the race for Super Eight qualification.

In the biggest shock of the tournament so far, Zimbabwe defeated former champions Australia by 23 runs in a pulsating Group B encounter at Colombo. Electing to bat first, Zimbabwe posted a competitive 169 for 2 in 20 overs , led by a calm and composed 64 not out from Brian Bennett and important contributions from Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl.

Australia’s chase never gained momentum. The top order lurched to 29 for 4 in the powerplay , with Zimbabwe’s bowlers dominating every phase of the innings. Blessing Muzarabani produced a match-winning spell of 4 for 17 , while Brad Evans added 3 for 23 to stifle Australia’s hopes. Although Matt Renshaw fought valiantly with 65 , the Australians were dismissed for 146 in 19.3 overs , leaving them with an uphill task to stay alive in the tournament.

The result significantly boosts Zimbabwe’s chances in Group B while piling pressure on Australia, who must now win their remaining fixtures to keep their Super Eight hopes intact.

In Chennai, the United States produced a commanding performance , crushing the Netherlands by 93 runs in a Group A clash. Batting first, the USA amassed 196 for 6 , powered by Saiteja Mukkamalla’s fluent 79 and a rapid 48 from Shubham Ranjane. The bowlers then completed a dominant display as the Netherlands were bowled out for 103 in 15.5 overs , giving the USA a landmark victory in their World Cup campaign.

The day’s third match saw the United Arab Emirates clinch a tense five-wicket win over Canada in Group D at New Delhi. Canada posted 150 for 7 , but the UAE chased down the target with two balls to spare, thanks to a match-defining partnership between Aryansh Sharma (74 not out) and Sohaib Khan (51) . Earlier, Junaid Siddique’s five-wicket haul played a decisive role in restricting Canada to a manageable total.

Action continues on Saturday, February 14 , with England taking on Sri Lanka in Group C at Colombo , followed by South Africa facing Scotland in Group D at New Delhi , before New Zealand meet Afghanistan in a Group A night match at Chennai , as the Super Eight race intensifies across venues.