Ryan Burl’s innings of 35 runs and his inadvertent role in Marcus Stoinis’s hand injury represented a crucial turning point in Zimbabwe’s stunning 23-run T20 World Cup victory over Australia. The sequence of events disrupted Australia’s bowling plans and contributed to Zimbabwe posting a match-winning total of 169-2.
Burl arrived at the crease after Marcus Stoinis dismissed Tadiwanashe Marumani for 35, caught behind. Batting in the middle order, Burl combined effectively with opener Brian Bennett to rebuild Zimbabwe’s innings and maintain scoring momentum. His 35 runs came at a healthy strike rate, including powerful shots that kept Australia’s bowlers under pressure. The partnership ensured Zimbabwe didn’t suffer a mid-innings collapse that could have restricted them to a more manageable total.
The incident that injured Stoinis occurred when Burl blasted a full toss straight back at the bowler. The ball traveled at considerable pace, striking Stoinis on the hand with force. Stoinis immediately appeared in pain and was forced to leave the field for assessment. The injury not only removed a key bowler from Australia’s attack but also potentially compromised Stoinis’s batting contribution later in the match.
Cameron Green immediately dismissed Burl with his first delivery after Stoinis’s departure, providing Australia with a crucial wicket. Green’s final figures of 1 for 6 represented Australia’s most economical and successful bowling. However, the damage was already done—Burl’s 35 runs had contributed to a solid total, and Stoinis’s injury had disrupted Australia’s bowling rotations. Bennett remained unbeaten on 64 to guide Zimbabwe to their final score.
Australia’s chase collapsed to 29 for 4 in the powerplay, with Blessing Muzarabani claiming career-best figures of 4 for 17. Stoinis contributed just 6 runs with the bat, unable to support Matthew Renshaw’s fighting 65 or extend Glenn Maxwell’s 31. The defeat represents Australia’s first T20 World Cup loss to Zimbabwe since 2007 and leaves them facing potential elimination from the tournament.