Australia face an embarrassing group stage exit from the Men’s T20 World Cup after the match between Zimbabwe and Ireland was canceled due to rain.
Australia have picked up two points from their first three games after losses to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, but will need multiple results in their favor to have a chance of progressing to the Super 8s.
On Tuesday, Australia demanded that Zimbabwe lose to Ireland, but the match was called off without being played to give Zimbabwe the points they needed to secure a top two spot in Group B.
Zimbabwe are now on five points after three games, one behind group leaders Sri Lanka, while Australia, who can only collect a maximum of four points, are guaranteed an early exit regardless of the result of Friday’s game against Oman.
Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe advance from Group B
If there is no result, Ireland will also be eliminated, finishing with three points from four games, and Oman will also not be able to advance from their group.
Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka will face each other in Colombo on Thursday, live on Sky Sports Cricket from 9.30am, in a battle to top the group.
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In the T20 World Cup, Pathum Nissanka’s brilliant 100 off just 52 balls helped Sri Lanka defeat Australia by eight wickets.
How Australia was eliminated from the T20 World Cup
After a resounding 67-run win over Ireland in the opening match, the Baggy Greens’ tournament spiraled out of control after two consecutive defeats to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.
Australia’s campaign has been surrounded by injuries and selection issues, with captain Mitch Marsh making just one appearance, and the decision not to replace Steve Smith with the Reds has drawn criticism from legendary batsman Mark Waugh.
“I think the whole season was doomed from the start with selection issues and injuries,” Waugh told Australia’s SEN radio.
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Zimbabwe’s Tony Munyonga takes a brilliant catch in the field to dismiss Ben Dwarshuis and his team beat Australia in the ICC T20 World Cup.
“For me, Steve Smith not being selected for the team is the most puzzling non-selection that I can remember in a long time.”
Australia’s bowling world is also plagued by injuries and selection issues similar to the batting. The Baggy Greens have picked up four wickets in their last two matches. This is an incredible figure for a team that boasts one of the best bowling attacks in world cricket.
With Mitchell Starc retiring from T20 cricket and injuries to Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, the Baggy Greens face their first international tournament without any of their world champion fast bowling trio for the first time in a decade.
Their absence must have been most felt when Pathum Nissanka put the nail in Australia’s coffin by pummeling Sri Lanka’s 100 off 52 balls.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe made the perfect start to reach the Super 8s stage and will match their best ever World Cup result in 2022.
Raza: Everyone loves an underdog story.
Zimbabwe captain Shikadar Raza said on Sky Sports:
“Let’s go back to when we played in the sub-regional qualifiers. We played against Kenya, Rwanda and all the other teams. I stood up to the military and said: ‘It’s our fault we’re in this position. There’s no one else to blame. Only we can get us out of it.’
“We will celebrate, but only for a short time. We have a travel day and then a game against Sri Lanka. This was not the only goal we had.
“This is fine, but we still have a lot to achieve. Everyone loves an underdog story. We are trying our best to gain more respect for Zimbabwe.”
Tucker: As Irish people, we’re used to rain.
Ireland captain Lorcan Tucker said on Sky Sports:
“As Irish people we know all too well. We didn’t want it to end like this, but that wasn’t the case today. After the Oman game it felt like we were gaining momentum but it was too late and that’s what this tournament turned out to be.”
Our group had a great experience at this competition. I’m hoping for good moments in the coming years.”
Watch every match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup live on Sky Sports Cricket, including the final on Sunday 8th March. Get Sky Sports and stream now without a contract.
