Zimbabwe stunned Australia by one-run in a warm—-p match ahead of the World Twenty20 Championship beginning on Friday, at the Beausejour Stadium here on Tuesday.
Chasing Zimbabwe’s 173 for seven off 20 overs, Australia reached 172 for seven despite scoring 31 runs in the final two overs.
Zimbabwe fought back from 36 for 4 through Elton Chigumbura’s couter-attacking 76 off 33 balls. Chigumbura blasted six sixes and five fours while Craig Ervine chipped in with 39 in the stand of 114 to post a challenging total.
Australia were on right track at the start of the chase as David Warner smashed 72 off 49 and then captain Michael Clarke took them to the verge of victory with 49 off 42 balls.
Australia wanted 13 from the final over but Chris Mpofu removed Clarke and Mitchell Johnson was run out off a wide ball. Brett Lee could only manage a bye from the final delivery.
It was a practice game but Australia’s first T20 defeat of the season.
Johnson, however, said that the loss will not be a setback for the side.
“It won’t be a setback. It’s disappointing to lose in a practice match but we’ve just got to keep going forward,” he said.
Australia will play another warm-up match against a Windward Island XI on Thursday before their opening match of the tournament against champions Pakistan on Sunday.
In other warm-up matches, Pakistan breezed to a 68-run win over the Windward Islands XI here. New Zealand beat Ireland by 40 runs at Guyana while Bangladesh posted an easy 36-run victory over Barbados at Kensington Oval.
