Underdogs Zimbabwe hold nerve to stun Australia in T20 World Cup upset

With their vocal supporters heard in the stands from ball one, Zimbabwe were on form. Batting first, they were nearly risk-free - perhaps too much so - in setting their 169/2 total. In reply, Australia recovered from a disastrous start, but a few moments of magic in the field won the day for Zimbabwe, whose T20 World Cup record now reads 2-0 against the men from Down Under. 

Australia were in trouble early in the chase. The metronomic Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans struck in each of their opening four overs, reducing Australia to 29/4. Only Travis Head (17) and Josh Inglis (8) managed runs, while Cameron Green and Tim David went for ducks.

That left Matt Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell to rescue the innings. The duo tempered their aggression, opting for accumulation, and it paid off.

But their partnership of 77 off 59, which was looking match-winning, was finally broken when Maxwell dragged one onto his stumps. Still needing over 11 an over, new man Marcus Stoinis looked to press on, but holed out in the deep for six, leaving Australia 117/6 and needing 53 runs off 26 balls. 

Then Zimbabwe's Tony Munyonga arguably took the catch of the tournament. Ben Dwarshuis clobbered Evans into the deep and Munyonga hit top pace, running around the boundary and launching himself full-length to pull off a screamer in the 18th over, heavily shifting the match in Zimbabwe's favour.

The brilliant Muzarabani then picked up Renshaw - who was deceived by a slower ball - and went straight through Adam Zampa to finish with 4/17 and all but wrap up the match for Zimbabwe. Needing 29 from the final over, Evans put Australia out of their misery with a sharp run-out after Matt Kuhnemann was too far down the track.

Earlier, Zimbabwe were not overawed by the occasion. Openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani took measured risks up front as they built a solid partnership. Marumani was the aggressor, tucking into Maxwell's off-spin in the fourth over, which went for 14 runs. Even when the dangerous Adam Zampa - who was fresh off four wickets at the same venue on Wednesday - came on, Zimbabwe did not let him settle as Marumani sent him to the fence twice. 

Australia finally broke through in the eighth over. Angling across Marumani, he drew the edge to wicketkeeper Inglis and the opener was on his way for a sparkling 35 off 21.

That brought Ryan Burl to the crease, where he and anchor Bennett continued to grind with low-risk proper cricket shots. The pair put on 71 off 51 before Burl crunched a drive into bowler Stoinis' hand. The all-rounder left the field and Green struck when he completed his over. Burl (35 off 30) skied one and was caught behind, leaving Zimbabwe 131/2 with three overs left. 

Bennett carried his bat for 64 (53) not out and captain Sikandar Raza's lusty backend blows took Zimbabwe to what was a match-winning total.