
Take a look at our newest merchandise
Key occasions
sixth over: Zimbabwe 47-0 (Bennett 19, Marumani 26) Nathan Ellis is simply the bowler for the event with the wicket giving the Australians little help and the Zimbabwe openers off to a flyer. However Bennett is and up operating now because the younger right-hander hammers Ellis for 4 via cowl. Marumani solely simply picks up Ellis’s trademark slower ball to dam it out of the hazard zone, then scoops a fuller ball skyward and barely extensive of Matt Renshaw on the rope at deep effective leg.
fifth over: Zimbabwe 40-0 (Bennett 14, Marumani 24) Travis Head retains swinging the modifications with the ball as Matt Kuhnemann makes it 4 bowlers in as many overs. The left-arm spinner offers his first ball loads of flight however Bennett picks it early and sends it again over Kuhnemann’s head for 4. The Australian bounces again with three dot balls till Bennett targets midwicket for an additional boundary. The Zimbabwe openers have set a robust platform with each batters trying comfy.
4th over: Zimbabwe 31-0 (Bennett 5, Marumani 24) Glenn Maxwell comes into the assault and Marumani is intent on blasting him again out. A reverse sweep off the opening supply races away behind level and to the rope, and Marumani pulls out a lot the identical shot for an additional boundary later within the over. A standard sweep ends with the identical outcome as Zimbabwe take 14 runs from the over with out taking too many dangers.
third over: Zimbabwe 17-0 (Bennett 4, Marumani 11) Tadiwanashe Marumani smacks the primary boundary of the innings via the covers then follows up with a wild swipe throughout the road. He continues dwelling dangerously as a thick inside edge is sufficient to get the ball away via sq. leg and to the rope. Bennett finishes the over making an attempt and lacking a ramp however the Zimbabwean intent is turning into clearer.
2nd over: Zimbabwe 8-0 (Bennett 4, Marumani 2) Marcus Stoinis takes the brand new ball and begins with a loosener for a large. The allrounder rapidly finds his line and will get the ball angling throughout Marumani. The Zimbabwe opener seems untroubled till swinging arduous at a shorter ball and failing to get excessive of his shot. He’s lucky to see it drop just a few metres extensive of the fielder at backward sq..
1st over: Zimbabwe 4-0 (Bennett 4, Marumani 0) Ben Dwarshuis makes a effective begin on his return to the XI as he has the ball shifting off the deck and he carves via Brian Bennett a number of occasions. Australia are excited by a noise after a supply that jags off the seam and ship a evaluation upstairs. That’s rapidly declined and Bennett responds with two runs via level.
Zimbabwe openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani are on their method out to the center and hoping to set the tone for the underdogs who’re dealing with their very own damage considerations. Ben Dwarshuis is again within the XI and has the white ball in hand as we’re about to get below method in Colombo …
Zimbabwe have additionally made a quick begin to their T20 World Cup marketing campaign as Blessing Muzarabani (3 for 16), Richard Ngarava (3 for 17) and Brad Evans (3 for 18) ripped via Oman.
Steve Smith was broadly thought of unfortunate – at the very least by me – to overlook out on being a part of Australia’s squad for this T20 World Cup. However he’s set to affix up with the squad this night, in response to stand-in skipper Travis Head, after Mitch Marsh suffered essentially the most unlucky of accidents.
Australia are one from one within the match thus far after Nathan Ellis and Adam Zampa sealed the win over Eire. Learn all about it or watch the highlights beneath.
Zimbabwe XI
Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (capt), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Graeme Cremer, Blessing Muzarabani.
Sikandar Raza is completely satisfied to bat first on what he expects to be a constant floor that may sluggish up because the solar comes out and the sport drags on. Zimbabwe have introduced in an additional spinner however Brendon Taylor, who hit the successful runs within the well-known victory over Australia again in 2007, has been dominated out of the match.
Australia XI
Australia: Travis Head (capt), Josh Inglis (wk), Cameron Inexperienced, Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Renshaw, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Matt Kuhnemann.
Cooper Connolly and Xavier Bartlett drop out of the XI with Tim David and Ben Dwarshuis coming in. Steve Smith is but to affix up with the group in any case, however Head says – with a touch of uncertainty and amusing – that he’ll arrive tonight. The Australia stand-in skipper appears usually relaxed.
We’re used to a little bit of chaos early in a match. We simply should put one other good efficiency in. I believe given the situations we did rather well [against Ireland]. We did it another way to what we usually do however at this time is a special pitch and we’ll should adapt once more.
Australia win the toss and elect to bowl
Sikandar Raza calls tails however the coin drops on heads and Travis Head takes no time to ship Zimbabwe in to bat first. Adjustments coming for either side.
Australia and Zimbabwe have minimal historical past of assembly in T20Is with solely two clashes since Prosper Utseya’s aspect pulled off the shock of the 2007 T20 World Cup. Regular service was resumed when Australia beat Zimbabwe convincingly in a pair of matches in Harare in 2018, with the primary win arrange by Aaron Finch’s fireworks. The Australia captain hammered 172 from 76 balls in a devastating knock that also stands because the second highest by a males’s batter within the worldwide format.
Preamble
Martin Pegan
Good day and welcome to reside protection of the T20 World Cup group B match between Australia and Zimbabwe in Colombo. Each side made successful begins to their marketing campaign with the undermanned Australia brushing apart Eire by 67 runs, and Zimbabwe making even lighter work of Oman in an eight-wicket victory. However there’s little margin for error from right here with solely the highest two in every five-team group to progress to the Tremendous Eight stage, and co-host Sri Lanka additionally prone to problem for these pivotal locations.
Australia captain Mitch Marsh is unlikely to be match to face Zimbabwe after copping a painful blow to the, ahem, midriff in coaching forward of the workforce’s T20 World Cup opener. Tim David can be anticipated to overlook at this time’s recreation at R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium as a skinny squad continues to teeter getting ready to an damage disaster. The absence of the heavy-hitting duo would possibly assist open the door for Zimbabwe to tug off what can be an enormous upset although it stays to be seen whether or not Steve Smith is parachuted into the Australia XI after getting a late call-up to affix the squad.
The 2 sides are at the very least considerably unfamiliar to one another after not crossing paths in a worldwide match or bilateral collection since taking part in three ODIs in north Queensland in 2022. However Zimbabwe shall be completely satisfied to look again additional to the time once they surprised Australia on the first T20 World Cup method again in 2007.
Toss and confirmed groups shall be arising shortly – with first ball to be bowled at 4.30pm AEDT / 11am native in Colombo / 5.30am GMT – so please take the time to get in contact along with your ideas and predictions. Drop me an e-mail or discover me @martinpegan on Bluesky or X.