T20 World Cup: Zimbabwe to 23-run win over Australia as Blessing Muzarabane wins 4-17

Blessing Muzarabani made a brilliant score of 4-17 as Zimbabwe held their nerve to stun Australia with a thrilling 23-run win in the T20 World Cup.

Setting the tough target of 170, Australia looked in big trouble at 29-4 before Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell stood 77 runs for the fifth wicket.

Australia needed 34 runs from the last two overs, but when Renshaw was caught out for 65 after sledding off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, the match was effectively over.

The result leaves Group B in a difficult position after two matches each, with Australia two points behind Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, who will face Australia on Monday.

Zimbabwe initially looked 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 included seven fours but came at a strike rate of 114.28 when he played the anchor role.

Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl were certainly more aggressive, as they both hit 35 off 21 and 30 balls respectively.

Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza’s 13-ball 25 provided the unbeaten 25 with some late momentum as he scored just a six off the last ball of the innings.

The chase looked comfortably within reach for the Australian side who made 182-6 in their win over Ireland in the opening match.

However, Mezarabani and Brad Evans 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 kept falling back to Pearl to fall to 31 – one of only three Australian players to achieve double figures – the pressure increased.

Muzarabane then returned to bowl the penultimate ball, and after the 6ft 8in bowler removed Renshaw, Zimbabwe quickly turned on Coupe de Grace.

More to follow.