Colombo, February 13 Brian Bennett struck an unbeaten 64 as Zimbabwe's top-order batters played collectively against a weakened Australian bowling attack to post a challenging 169/2 in their T20 World Cup match here on Friday.
Bennett hit seven fours off the 56 balls he faced, setting the perfect foundation for Zimbabwe to reach a big total, with 125/1 after the 15th over. However, Australia recovered in the final five overs, conceding only 44 runs.
Wicket-keeper Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl each contributed 35, while captain Sikandar Raza remained not out on 25 off 13 balls.
With wickets in hand, Zimbabwe could have accelerated even further and scored more. There was only one six in the innings.
In the absence of players like Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, the Australian pace attack initially seemed lacking in intensity, which Zimbabwe's bowlers capitalized on, but ultimately faltered.
The Zimbabwean batters handled Adam Zampa very well, as he remained wicketless, taking 0/31 in his four overs.
The highlight of Zimbabwe's innings, after they were sent in to bat, was the 61-run stand for the opening wicket between Marumani and Bennett in 7.3 overs.
Marumani hit two fours off Ben Dwarshuis in the third over and three boundaries off Glenn Maxwell in the fourth over after a slow start.
Bennett joined the scoring with two boundaries in the fifth over bowled by Matthew Kuhnemann, taking Zimbabwe to a decent 47/0 at the end of the powerplay.
Australia got the breakthrough in the eighth over with Marcus Stoinis dismissing Marumani, whose thick edge went straight to Josh Inglis behind the stumps.
Zimbabwe were 61/1, and they reached 79/1 at the halfway stage. They added 46 runs in the next five overs, reaching 125/1 at the 15th over.
Pacer Marcus Stoinis left the field in the 16th over, clutching his hand in pain while attempting a return catch of Burl.
From a full toss, Burl hit straight back at Stoinis, who tried to get hold of the ball. Stoinis grimaced in pain and immediately called for the physio, before leaving the field.
Cameron Green completed the unfinished 16th over, which turned out to be lucky, with Burl getting out off the last ball.
Green and Stoinis were the only Australian wicket-takers.
