Australia have been knocked out of the 2026 T20 World Cup after Zimbabwe’s conflict in opposition to Eire was referred to as off attributable to rain.
Eire have additionally been eradicated from the event after officers in Kandy deemed that no play was attainable.
Rain started to fall earlier than the match, with groundstaff having rushed to tug on the covers.
Each Eire and Zimbabwe might be awarded one level in consequence, with Zimbabwe qualifying for the Tremendous Eight stage for the primary time within the historical past of the boys’s T20 World Cup.
Australia had been hoping for a miracle after they suffered a bruising eight-wicket defeat by Sri Lanka on Monday afternoon.
Mitchell Marsh’s facet had been left with two factors after struggling two defeats and one victory throughout their opening three matches.
However these hopes had been washed away by the rain, with Zimbabwe securing second place in Group B behind Sri Lanka, having amassed 5 factors.
To qualify, Australia wanted Zimbabwe to lose each of their remaining group-stage matches in opposition to Eire and Sri Lanka. Marsh’s facet then wanted to convincingly defeat Oman of their closing match on Friday to have a hope of inserting second within the group.
It’s also a irritating consequence for Eire, who had been eyeing up a late cost to usurp Zimbabwe as second within the group. To qualify, Eire would have wanted to have claimed a convincing victory in opposition to Zimbabwe right this moment and one other win of their closing group-stage match in opposition to Oman.
Aussie greats hit out at facet’s embarrassing exit
Australia have vastly underwhelmed throughout this event and questions at the moment are being requested of their preparations coming into the World Cup.
Steve Smith was flown over to Sri Lanka as cowl for injured skipper Mitchell Marsh, however was not used throughout his facet’s must-win sport in opposition to Sri Lanka on Monday.
In the meantime, Aussie selectors opted to drop fellow batsman Matt Renshaw for the match, regardless of him having been Australia’s high scorer throughout their earlier defeat by Zimbabwe. Renshaw struck 65 off 44 deliveries after having beforehand scored 37 runs of their opening conflict in opposition to Eire.
Australia’s bowlers have additionally struggled to take wickets, with Nathan Ellis and Adam Zampa each failing to take wickets in each of their two earlier matches.
The staff’s selectors have additionally been criticised for failing to deploy reserve participant Sean Abbott. The medium-fast bowler had taken seven wickets within the final six T20I matches he has bowled in previous to the event, however didn’t function within the group phases.
Extra to comply with…
