Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza termed his team’s 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup as “unbelievable”, crediting the squad’s unity, culture and collective belief for the famous triumph at the R Premadasa Stadium. Defending 169-2, Zimbabwe bowled Australia out for 146 in 19.3 overs to script one of the tournament’s biggest upsets
Zimbabwe players celebrate their win over Australia at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on Friday. PIC/Getty Images
Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza described their stunning 23-run win over Australia as “unbelievable”, saying the culture, unity and environment built within the squad made the result possible.
Zimbabwe shocked Australia in their Group B clash of the T20 World Cup at the R Premadasa Stadium here on Friday, successfully defending 169-2 as the heavyweights folded for 146 in 19.3 overs.
“Very happy and above all, very proud. Feeling of a brother whose younger brothers are achieving a lot together,” Raza said. Raza scored an unbeaten 25 off 13 balls and opened the bowling, but a severe leg cramp while sending down the ninth over forced him off the field in agony.
‘We deserved to win’
“So, it was nice to watch from outside and see how the team went about their business, the culture, the environment, the unity that we have taken, that we have created over a long time. Just to see it from outside, I was extremely proud, and on top of that, a win. It’s just unbelievable. But the way we came and the way we bowled, the way we started, the way we fielded every catch, some of the boundary stops, it’s just unbelievable. I mean, there’s nothing to fault the boys for. It looked like the boys wanted it, and I think they really did and they deserved to win today.”
Fast bowlers Blessing Muzarabani (4-17) and Brad Evans (3-23) ripped through Australia’s top order inside four overs, dismissing Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Tim David and Travis Head to set up the victory.
UAE beat Canada
In another match, Aryansh Sharma (74 not out) and Sohaib Khan (51) struck fifties under pressure as UAE pulled off a five-wicket win over Canada in their Group D clash in New Delhi. Earlier pacer Junaid Siddique claimed 5-35 as UAE restricted Canada to 150-7.
We weren’t good enough, admits Aussie Renshaw
Australian batter Matt Renshaw (44-ball-65) refused to blame the slow R Premadasa Stadium surface for their defeat to Zimbabwe, saying visiting teams from the sub-continent never complain about pace and bounce when they tour Down Under.
Matt Renshaw
“I think that’s just the nature of cricket. You get a sub-continent team come to Australia and you don’t get them complaining about the bounce or the pace,” Renshaw said at the post-match press conference. “It’s just the way that cricket is nowadays. You’ve got to be able to go through different surfaces,” he added.
100
Zimbabwe’s winning percentage vs Australia in T20 World Cups (played 2, won 2); they are the only team to do so against Australia
4-17
Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani’s figures on Friday; the second-best vs Australia in T20 World Cups after R Ashwin’s 4-11 in 2014
315
Total runs scored at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium on Friday — the highest match aggregate in a T20 World Cup game involving Australia and Zimbabwe
Brief scores
Zimbabwe 169-2 in 20 overs (B Bennett 64*, T Marumani 35, R Burl 35) beat australia 146 all out in 19.3 overs (M Renshaw 65, G Maxwell 31; B Muzarabani 4-17, B Evans 3-23) by 23 runs
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