Zimbabwe beat a depleted Australia by 23 runs on Friday in Colombo to pull off the biggest shock of the T20 World Cup so far.

After posting 169-2 in their 20 overs, thanks mainly to Brian Bennett’s classy 64 not out, Zimbabwe had Australia 29-4 before dismissing them for 146 in 19.3 overs.

The Zimbabweans, ranked 11th were always in control against their second-ranked opponents in the Group B game at R. Premadasa Stadium after opening bowlers Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans ripped out Australia’s top order.

There were sensational scenes at the venue as a group of Zimbabwe fans dressed in their team jerseys celebrated the win with a traditional dance.

“It is a huge win for us,” said Bennett.

“There are fans who have come all the way from Zimbabwe and they have enjoyed the game and it is a special feeling today to get a win here.”

Muzarabani was the pick of the bowlers finishing with 4-17.

“I was really happy that today really came off,” said Muzarabani, who was named player of the match.

“I also believe that everyone really bowled well. We missed Richi (Ngarava), but Brad (Evans) really bowled well.

The next step

“It’s really good to beat Australia, but it will also be nice to qualify for the Super Eights. So we’ll be thinking about the next step.”

Australia retained hope of a rearguard victory when Glenn Maxwell and Matt Renshaw put on 77 for the fifth wicket.

But once part-time leg-spinner Ryan Burl induced one of the short game’s great players, Maxwell, to drag on to his stumps for 31, they were never in the hunt and tumbled from 106-4 to 146 all out.

Opening batsman Bennett’s unbeaten 64 off 56 balls was an exercise in controlled aggression as he rarely went the aerial route and found the boundary seven times.

It was the 22-year-old’s 10th half-century in T20 internationals.

“It was the type of wicket you have to do the hard yards,” said Bennett.

Zimbabwe thrashed Oman in their opener and their last two group games will be against Ireland and Sri Lanka.

Co-hosts Sri Lanka have also won both their matches so far.

“We are in a good position to go to the next round having won two out of two,” said Bennett.

Ryan Burl and Bennett put on 70 for the second wicket, a record stand for Zimbabwe in T20 World Cups after an opening partnership of 61 with Tadiwanashe Marumani.

Australia beat Ireland on Wednesday, but with matches to come against Sri Lanka and Oman, another defeat could see them on the plane home after the group stage.

Without their captain Mitchell Marsh for the second match, and the previously ruled out pace spearheads Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Australia’s campaign in the 20-nation tournament is in danger of falling apart at the first hurdle.

The former champions were left with more to worry as Marcus Stoinis was struck on his left palm attempting a return catch halfway through his third over.

The all-rounder was accompanied off the field in pain. He did come out to bat but scored only six.

“Stoinis was going to bat higher and him not being able to bat higher was a blow,” said Renshaw, who top scored with 65.

“Medical staff will examine how bad is his injury. We weren’t good enough today. There is time for flair in T20 cricket.

“We had to rebuild,” he added.

“But we kept losing wickets at regular intervals. It wasn’t our day and we are bitterly disappointed.”

The only bright spot was power batter Tim David being named in the team after missing the Ireland win.

But he made a two-ball duck in his first game since suffering a hamstring injury in the Big Bash League on December 26.