'Moment to remember': Australia suffer shock T20 World Cup upset against Zimbabwe

Australia has been upset by Zimbabwe in a shock result at the T20 World Cup.

Captain Travis Head opted to send Zimbabwe in to bat at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka with a 2-169 score posted. Opener Brian Bennett carried his bat to finish with the top score of 64 not out.

In response, Australia finished all out for 146 after Matt Kuhnemann was run out in the final over.

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"It's been a long time coming but this will be a moment to remember, one they will never forget and it is a big victory against Australia," Natalie Germanos said on Amazon Prime's coverage.

"Twenty-three runs they win by, they dominated today's play."

Matthew Hayden added: "It was a complete performance with ball with bat, they were superb ... Zimbabwe well and truly in this T20 World Cup".

Australia's chase was off to a horror start at 4-29 with Josh Inglis (8), Cameron Green (0), Tim David (0) and Travis Head (17) all contributing to a top order collapse.

Glenn Maxwell and Matt Renshaw combined for a 77-run partnership to give Australia hope in the 15th over.

But Maxwell's wild swing off Burl's bowling led to him being bowled for 31.

Marcus Stoinis batted with a sore thumb and made only 6.

Ben Dwarshuis was the last hope to stay out there with Renshaw but he was dismissed by a moment of brilliance when Tony Munyonga dived to his right on the boundary and caught a stunning catch.

Dwarshuis (6) made it 7-131 with 10 balls left and by the next over Renshaw was gone for a well made 65.

Zampa and Kuhnemann offered no resistance making it the second time Zimbabwe has defeated Australia at the T20 World Cup. The last occasion was 2007. Australia has never won a match against Zimbabwe at a T20 World Cup.

Earlier, Stoinis was unable to finish his over during Zimbabwe's innings after copping a nasty blow to his hand.

The all-rounder had two balls left in his third over as he charged in and delivered a full toss to Ryan Burl.

Burl hit the ball back hard at Stoinis who dropped the chance and clutched at his hand in agony.

"That will definitely hurt, hopefully he's not done himself a mischief right there, it doesn't look good, does it?," Pommie Mbangwa said.

"He's not sure, doesn't want to look."

Stoinis kept his hands together and refused to check on his injury visually. The replay showed it hit him flush on the corner of his left hand near the thumb.

Australia's doctor then came out before Stoinis immediately left the field.

"He knew he was in trouble straight away didn't he?," Aaron Finch said.

Cameron Green finished the over for Stoinis and took a wicket the next ball as Burl (35) hit a pull shot to third man Xavier Bartlett.

Stoinis had the best figures with 1-17 off 2.5 overs for Australia. For Zimbabwe, Evans took 3-23 while Blessing Muzarabani claimed 4-17.

Post-match, stand-in Australian captain Head described the result as "disappointing" but backed his decision to bowl first.

"We thought it was a good wicket, we thought it was a little bit tacky at the start and that it would be even throughout the whole contest," he said.

"I think it showed it was, although taking two wickets in our bowling innings I think it was under-par (from Zimbabwe). We got 180 on a wicket that was a lot tougher.

"I felt like it came on really well in the second innings but we lost wickets and put ourselves under pressure."

Zimbabwe's captain Sikandar Raza, who battled cramp throughout the match, said he was "very happy but above all very proud".

"I have a feeling of a brother who has his younger brothers achieving a lot together ... it's just unbelievable," he said.