Brief Scores: Zimbabwe (169 for 2 in 20 overs) beat Australia (146 all out in 19.3 overs) by 23 runs in a Group B match in Colombo. Scorecard | Highlighting
Matthew Renshaw has revealed that Australia have struggled with fresh injuries in their World T20 campaign after all-rounder Marcus Stoinis was injured in the defeat to Zimbabwe. On Friday, February 13 Australia slumped to a shock 23-run loss at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, an injury to Stoinis added to their woes.
Stoinis injured his hand trying to stop a shot off his own bowling. He immediately called a physio and walked off the field, with Cameron Green coming in to deliver the last ball of the over. Stoinis later returned to bat at number seven, scoring 6 off 4 balls before being dismissed by Wellington Masakadza.
Renshaw, who top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, said the team was unsure of the extent of Stoinis’ injury and that the medical staff would assess him further.
“Probably Marcus Stoinis was going to bat higher, he got that knock on the finger, we don’t know how bad it is, I’m sure the medical staff will treat it, but yes, it was today, but yes, we just weren’t good enough today,” Renshaw told the post-match press conference.
“They bowled really well, batted really well, got 170 on the board, had wickets in hand to run at the end and took early wickets. So in T20s, it’s always tough when that happens,” Renshaw added.
AUSTRALIA STRUGGLES WITH INJURY WORRIES
Australia’s World Cup campaign was marred by a series of injury setbacks that unsettled their preparations. Veteran pacers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were ruled out before the start of the tournament, with Cummins sidelined due to ongoing back problems and Hazlewood unable to recover in time from hamstring and Achilles injuries.
The problems were compounded when captain Mitchell Marsh suffered a groin injury in training which ruled him out of the opening game against Ireland. Australia subsequently called on Steve Smith as coverwith the veteran batsman jetting off to Sri Lanka to bolster the squad if required.
Power forward Tim David also missed the opening part of the campaign with a hamstring strain but returned for the match against Zimbabwe.
Australia will look to regroup after defeat to Zimbabwe when they take on co-hosts Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Monday 16 February.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
February 13, 2026