Australia stunned by Zimbabwe at T20 World Cup and UAE and US also win

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Zimbabwe remained unbeaten against Australia at T20 World Cups after a surprising and comfortable 23-run win on Friday.

Defending 169, seamers Blessing Muzarabani grabbed a career-best 4-17 and Brad Evans 3-23 to help dismiss Australia for 146 in 19.3 overs.

Zimbabwe's second victory from two matches left Australia — the 2021 champion and perennial white-ball contender — needing to beat co-host Sri Lanka and Oman to advance from Group B.

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates and United States registered their second wins in T20 World Cup history.

The UAE beat Canada by five wickets in New Delhi and the U.S. routed the Netherlands by 93 runs in Chennai.

Zimbabwe shocked Australia in their only previous T20 World Cup match in 2007, a freak five-wicket win in Cape Town. But 19 years later the contest was stunning for how much Zimbabwe dominated.

Zimbabwe lost only two wickets batting. Opener Brian Bennett earlier anchored with an unbeaten 64 off 56 balls. Tadiwanashe Marumani (35) and Ryan Burl (35) contributed and captain Sikandar Raza’s late acceleration (25 off 13 deliveries) was crucial in reaching 169-2.

The game was as good as over when Zimbabwe reduced Australia to 29-4 after 4.3 overs of the chase. Muzarabani and Evans did the damage and returned to finish what they started.

Matt Renshaw, playing in his first T20 World Cup, scored a fighting 65 off 44 balls into the 19th over and partnered with Glenn Maxwell, who struggled for 31 off 32.

“I was bowling to some of the best players in the world, so I am really happy it came off really nice,” said Muzarabani, who also reached 100 wickets in T20s. “Really good to beat Australia, but also (will be) nice to qualify (for the Super 8s), so looking forward to the next game now.”

Zimbabwe is on a mission of redemption after failing to qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup, the only full member to miss out. But before this game veteran batter Brendan Taylor was ruled out of the tournament due to a hamstring injury, and during Australia's innings captain Raza left with leg cramps.

Australia was without captain Mitchell Marsh, sidelined for the second successive game due to a testicular injury. When stand-in skipper Travis Head deflected the ball onto his stumps, Australia was four down and in deep trouble.

On a slow pitch the asking rate soared and Zimbabwe didn't allow the batters to break free.

Earlier, Marumani hit seven boundaries to lead Zimbabwe to 61-0 with Bennett, who shared another 60-run stand with Burl.

Opener Aryansh Sharma hit 74 not out off 53 balls to lead UAE across the finish line against Canada. Sharma surpassed Muhammad Waseem’s 66 not out against New Zealand in the previous game for UAE's highest score at a T20 World Cup.

Chasing Canada’s 150-7, the UAE was down to 66-4 as left-arm spinner Saad Bin Zafar rocked the top order with 3-14 in four overs.

Sohaib Khan provided the turning point — 51 off 29 balls with four sixes — and an 84-run stand off 42 balls with Sharma.

Canada was restricted to a below-par score after medium pacer Juniad Siddique picked 5-35, the second best figures in the tournament.

UAE’s only previous T20 World Cup win was against Namibia in 2022.

The U.S. also notched a second win in tournament history after downing Pakistan in 2024.

Saiteja Mukkamalla scored 79 off 51 balls with four sixes and five fours as the U.S. racked up 196-6. Skipper Monank Patel added 36 off 22.

The Dutch hit back through medium pacer Bas de Leede (3-37), but Shubham Rajane countered with 48 not out off 24 balls to propel the score.

The Netherlands collapsed to 103 all out in 15.5 overs.

Left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh took 4-21, medium pacer Shadley van Schalkwyk 3-21 and wrist spinner Mohammad Mohsin 2-19 as the U.S. earned the biggest win by runs — 93 — for an associate at T20 World Cups.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Zimbabwe's Brian Bennett celebrates his fifty runs during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Zimbabwe's Ryan Burl plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Zimbabwe's Blessing Muzarabani celebrates the wicket of Australia's Tim David during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Zimbabwe's Ryan Burl celebrates the wicket of Australia's Glenn Maxwell during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's captain Travis Head, second right, toss the coin as Zimbabwe's captain Sikandar Raza, right, watch it before the starts of the T20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Robert MacIntyre added the Valero Texas Open this year to be sharp for the Masters, and he looked every bit of that Friday with four birdies in his last five holes for an 8-under 64 and a four-shot lead over Ryder Cup teammate Ludvig Aberg.

MacIntyre felt comfortable with his swing from start, taking advantage of a back nine that included a hybrid that rolled out to 8 feet for eagle on the par-5 14th.

What made the difference was his finish, with all four of the Scot's birdies from 10 feet or closer.

He was in the same group as Aberg, whose 67 included holing out with a wedge from 120 yards for eagle on the par-4 sixth. The Swede's only disappointing was missing the fairway on his final hole at No. 9 and three-putting from 100 feet.

MacIntyre was at 14-under 130.

“I didn’t play last year, just went straight into Augusta. This was an adjustment for that reason,” MacIntyre said. “I wanted to be sharp — or sharper — going into Augusta.”

The Texas Open is the last chance for so many others to get into the Masters with a win, though MacIntyre is starting to make those odds seem a little bit longer.

Tony Finau, who hasn't missed the Masters since 2017, was one shot out of the lead going into the second round when he had three bogeys in six holes at the start. He had to rally for a 69, which included a 35-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th. That put him five shots behind, along with Kevin Roy, Bud Cauley and Thorbjorn Olesen.

“It was nice to make an eagle on the last,” Finau said. “I hit a really good drive, pushed my second shot a little, got lucky, covered the water and was able to roll that one in. Sometimes those are the small little breaks that you need to be towards the top of the leaderboard.”

Mark Hubbard, who led after 18 holes with a 65, followed that with a 77 to make the cut on the number at 2-under 142. He went from one shot ahead to 12 shots behind.

Aberg said he has moved on from his rough back nine that cost him at The Players Championship two weeks ago. He has another chance over the final 36 holes at the TPC San Antonio, and that's all that mattered to him.

“I feel great. I feel like I’ve been playing good golf,” Aberg said. “For me, golf is about putting yourself in situations where you can win tournaments. I feel like I haven’t really done that very well the last 12 months or so, but starting to see it now, which has been really nice. So I’m looking forward to one more shot at it this week.”

MacIntyre is trying to become the third straight left-handed player to win the Texas Open, following Brian Harman last year and Akshay Bhatia in 2024.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Hideki Matsuyama watches his drive during the second round of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament in San Antonio, Friday, April 3, 2026. (Andrew J. Whitaker/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)

Dylan Wu lies down for a better angle during the second round of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament in San Antonio, Friday, April 3, 2026. (Andrew J. Whitaker/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)

Robert MacIntyre hits onto the green on hole 1 during the second round of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament in San Antonio, Friday, April 3, 2026. (Andrew J. Whitaker/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)

Ludvig Aberg waves to fans during the second round of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament in San Antonio, Friday, April 3, 2026. (Andrew J. Whitaker/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)