Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign came to an early end on Tuesday after Zimbabwe qualified for the Super Eights following a rain-abandoned match against Ireland in Kandy.
Persistent drizzle at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium prevented any play, with officials calling off the Group B clash at 5:30 pm local time. The match failed to meet the minimum five-over requirement before the 6:10 pm cut-off, forcing both teams to share points.
The result confirmed Zimbabwe’s progression to the next stage alongside Sri Lanka from Group B, while Ireland and 2021 champions Australia were eliminated.
Zimbabwe now sit on five points with one game remaining against Sri Lanka, making their qualification unassailable. Ireland finish with three points, while Australia, on two points with a match left against Oman, can no longer advance.
Australia’s exit follows a troubled tournament build-up and inconsistent performances. The team suffered key injury setbacks, losing frontline pacers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood before the competition began. Captain Mitchell Marsh also missed the opening matches after sustaining a groin injury in training.
Despite strong domestic form in the Big Bash League, veteran batter Steve Smith was initially omitted from the squad. He later joined as cover and was officially added over the weekend, but was left out of the must-win match against Sri Lanka. Australia’s middle order collapsed in that fixture, resulting in an eight-wicket defeat that left their qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza praised his team’s achievement but stressed that their campaign was far from complete.
“We have come this far. We will celebrate, but we have a game against Sri Lanka to come,” Raza said. “This is only a tick in the box. This is not the only thing that we set out for. Everyone loves an underdog story.”
Ireland skipper Lorcan Tucker expressed disappointment at his side’s exit without taking the field.
“Obviously very disappointed to go out in this fashion, but completely uncontrollable,” Tucker said. “Our batting failed. There were big moments in the tournament, particularly against Sri Lanka when we dropped so many catches. Hopefully, we will handle these tough situations differently moving forward.”
Despite the rain, a small but vocal group of Zimbabwe supporters created a festive atmosphere in the stands, singing and dancing throughout the afternoon.
“They’ll be the loudest at any ground,” Raza said of the fans. “They keep the vibe and lift us up, even in this weather. When we hear them pushing us on, it gives us energy as well.”
Zimbabwe will now face tougher opposition in the Super Eights, where they are set to meet West Indies, India and South Africa as the tournament intensifies. https://dmtn1.com/2026/02/17/australia-ireland-eliminated-as-zimbabwe-reach-super-eights-after-washout/
