Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett plays a shot during the ICC T20 World Cup match against Australia in Colombo on February 13, 2026.
| Photo Credit: AP
After put into bat, Zimbabwe openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani scored rapidly to push Australian bowlers on the backfoot during the ICC Twenty20 World Cup match in Colombo on Friday (February 13, 2026). Zimbabwe finished at 169 for 2 at the end of 20 overs.
The openers added 61 in just 7.1 overs when Marumani (35) was dismissed by Stoinis. Then Bennet and Ryan Burl (35) stitched a 70-run partnership for the second wicket when Cameron Green (bowling in place of Stoinis) dismissed Burl. Bennett went to complete his half-century.
Ryan Burl and Brian Bennett 70-run partnership is Zimbabwe’s highest for the second wicket in T20 World Cup, breaking the record of 62 between Masakadza and Taylor.
After the dismissal of Burl, Bennett (64) and Sikandar Raza (25) consolidated the Zimbabwe innings towards the end of the innings, added 38 runs and took the score past 160-mark to challenge the might of Australian batting.
Earlier, Australia stand-in captain Travis Head won the toss and elected to bowl against Zimbabwe.
Both sides made two changes each from their previous match playing XIs.
Ben Dwarshuis and Tim David replaced Cooper Connolly and Xavier Bartlett in the Australian team.
For Zimbabwe, Tony Munyonga and Greame Creamer are coming in for Brendan Taylor and Richard Ngarava.
Mitchell Marsh misses second World Cup game
Captain Mitchell Marsh was again missing for Australia in their second game at the T20 World Cup, against Zimbabwe in Colombo on Friday (February 13, 2026), after suffering internal testicular bleeding.
Marsh is still recovering after being struck in the groin during training, with Travis Head leading the former champions at R. Premadasa Stadium.
Marsh also missed the win over Ireland on Wednesday (February 11, 2026) and Steve Smith was called up as cover.
“Steve Smith hasn’t reached Colombo yet but hopefully the skipper is fit soon,” Head said at the toss, which he won and chose to bowl against Zimbabwe.
The in-form Smith is one of Australia’s most experienced and best players against spin.
But he was controversially omitted from the squad despite his blistering Big Bash League form as an opening batsman.
Australia are already without pace bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, who are ruled out of the competition with injuries.
Teams:
Australia: Travis Head (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Matthew Kuhnemann.
Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza (c), Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Dion Myers, Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Graeme Cremer, Blessing Muzarabani.
(With inputs from PTI and AFP)
Published – February 13, 2026 10:54 am IST
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