Rain washes out Oz WC dreams as Zimbabwe, New Zealand advance to Super 8

Australia, the 2021 champion, crashed out of cricket’s T20 World Cup on Tuesday after Zimbabwe’s Group B game against Ireland was abandoned because of rain without a ball being bowled.

But the no-result in Pallekele meant Zimbabwe qualified for the second stage of the tournament for the first time.

Seven teams have now qualified for the second round. Zimbabwe will be in Group 1 along with defending champion India, West Indies and South Africa. Sri Lanka is in Group 2 with England, New Zealand and Pakistan or USA.

Earlier, Canada batter Yuvraj Samra’s exhilarating century proved in vain as New Zealand advanced to the Super 8s with an eight-wicket win in Chennai.

New Zealand’s resounding victory knocked 2024 semi-finalist Afghanistan out of the tournament.

Samra’s 110 off 65 balls, which included six sixes and 11 fours, had earlier guided Canada to 173-4 after captain Dilpreet Bajwa won the toss and elected to bat.

The 19-year-old Samra, who caught the eye last year when he smashed a 15-ball half century against Bahamas, became the first batter from an associate nation to score a hundred at the T20 World Cup.

“I manifested this moment ever since we qualified for the World Cup. Every single day I dreamed about scoring a hundred on this stage,” he said.

“To do it here, in my first appearance (in Chennai), and as the youngest player in this World Cup — it’s truly a dream come true.”

Bajwa made 36 off 39 balls and together with Samra put on 116 for the first wicket.

New Zealand struggled to stem the flow of runs and felt the absence of captain Mitchell Santner, who was ruled out of the game due to a “dodgy burger” on Monday night, and fast bowler Lockie Ferguson.

Ferguson is on paternity leave but is expected to re-join the team for the Super 8s. Samra was dropped, but not before he had raised his century off 58 deliveries, when the ball burst through the hands of James Neesham at long-off.

His belligerent knock ended in the final over when Phillips caught him at deep backward square leg at the second attempt.

In reply, Glenn Phillips (76 not out) and Rachin Ravindra (59 not out) led New Zealand to 176-2 in 15.1 overs on a perfect batting wicket as the Black Caps claimed their third win in Group D.

Finn Allen and Tim Seifert fell inside four balls in the power play before Phillips and Ravindra shared an electrifying 146-run partnership in just 12 overs.

Nepal registered its third win in T20 World Cups as it beat Scotland by seven wickets in Mumbai. It was the final game for both sides, who had already been eliminated from Group C.

Dipendra Singh Airee scored 50 not out off 23 balls with three sixes and four fours as Nepal finished with 171-3, crossing the victory line with four balls to spare. Opener Kushal Bhurtel scored 43 off 35 balls with four sixes.

Earlier, medium pacer Sompal Kami picked 3-25 as Scotland made 170-7. Opener Michael Jones scored 71 off 45 balls to set up the game.

It was the third highest successful run-chase for an associate nation in tournament history and a first win for Nepal in 12 years at the T20 World Cup. It had earlier beaten Hong Kong and Afghanistan in 2014, but went winless in 2024.

Scotland finished third in Group C with one win in four games.

Meanwhile, Dipendra Singh Airee hit an unbeaten 50 as Nepal saved their best for last to end their T20 World Cup campaign with a seven-wicket win over Scotland on Tuesday.

Chasing 171 for victory, Nepal looked in trouble at 98-3 in the 14th over before Airee took the initiative in his 23-ball knock as his team achieved the target with four balls to spare in Mumbai.

Airee put on 73 runs with Gulsan Jha, who made 24 not out, as Nepal earned their first win after three losses in Group C.

Nepal’s fans erupted with joy at the Wankhede Stadium after seeing their team win for the first time in the tournament since 2014.

“I want to thank the fans who came from Nepal and supported us, that gives a lot of motivation to all of us,” said player of the match Airee.

“And in the last World Cup, we didn’t win a single match. So that’s why this win is very important for us.”

Agencies