Blessing Muzarabani claimed a career-best 4-17 as Zimbabwe held their nerve to stun Australia with a brilliant 23-run win in the T20 World Cup.
Set the tricky target of 170, Australia had looked in big trouble at 29-4 before Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell’s 77-run stand for the fifth wicket.
Australia needed 34 runs off the final two overs, but when Renshaw was caught for 65 after he skied the superb Muzarabani with eight balls remaining the game was effectively up.
The result leaves Group B delicately poised after two games apiece, with Australia two points behind Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, who face the Aussies on Monday.
“The culture, environment and unity we’ve created over a long time makes me extremely proud – and on top of that, to win is unbelievable,” said Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza.
“It looked like the boys wanted [to win] and they really deserve it. We don’t need to change anything and it’s a great position, but it doesn’t guarantee anything. So the next game is now the most important one.”
Zimbabwe initially looked to have been guilty of playing too cautiously after they were asked to bat first at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Opener Brian Bennett’s unbeaten 64 off 56 balls featured seven fours but came at a strike rate of 114.28 as he played the anchor role.
Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl were decidedly more aggressive with their intent at the crease, both hitting 35 off 21 and 30 balls respectively.
Raza’s unbeaten 13-ball 25 provided some late impetus as he struck their only six off the final ball of the innings.
The chase looked to be comfortably within reach for an Australian side that made 182-6 in their victory over Ireland in the opening game.
However, Muzarabani and Brad Evans (3-23) removed the key wickets of Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green and Tim David to leave Australia in a world of trouble.
Renshaw and Maxwell rebuilt but when the latter dragged on to Burl to fall for 31 – one of only three Australia players to make double figures – it piled on the pressure.
Muzarabani then returned to bowl the penultimate over and, after the 6ft 8in pace bowler removed Renshaw, Zimbabwe swiftly administered the coupe de grace.
