T20 World Cup: Rain ends Ireland and Australia's hopes as Ireland vs Zimbabwe washed out
Persistent rain in Kandy forced the Group B match between Ireland and Zimbabwe to be abandoned without a ball being bowled, a result that handed Zimbabwe the point they needed to progress to the Super 8s and ended both Ireland's and Australia's chances of advancing.
Washout hands Zimbabwe passage and ends Ireland's campaign
The Pallekele contest was a must-win for Ireland and a crucial fixture for Australia’s faint hopes, but unrelenting downpours made play impossible and the game was called off. With the shared point Zimbabwe move to five points from three matches, while Ireland finish their campaign on three points from four games.
Ireland’s stand-in captain Lorcan Tucker reflected on the way their tournament ended: "It's very disappointing to go out in this fashion but it's completely uncontrollable. It looked like we were building momentum with the Oman win but unfortunately it came too late. " He added that the squad gained valuable experience and that handling big moments will be crucial going forward.
Australia left stunned as group stage exit becomes reality
Australia, who sit on two points after defeats to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, can no longer catch Zimbabwe even if they win their final group match. Their last game, against Oman, is scheduled for Friday at 8: 30 AM ET and is now a dead rubber.
Their elimination marks a startling early exit and underlines a campaign disrupted by injuries and selection headaches. Key frontline fast bowlers were unavailable, and the side struggled to find consistent wickets and runs at crucial moments. Those problems, combined with narrow losses, left the team unable to recover once their early results went against them.
Group B now a two-horse race for top spot — what’s next
With both Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka already assured of progression, their meeting in Colombo on Thursday at 4: 30 AM ET will decide the Group B winner. While both nations are guaranteed places in the Super 8s, pride and the chance to top the group are still on the line.
For Ireland, the tournament offers a mixed legacy: valuable exposure for several players in their first global event and glimpses of potential that failed to coalesce across four matches. For Australia, the early exit will prompt internal review of selection policy, injury management and squad balance ahead of the next international cycle.
The rain that fell in Kandy removed any final drama on the pitch and left outcomes to arithmetic rather than cricket. Zimbabwe will travel to Colombo looking to claim Group B, while Australia and Ireland reflect on what might have been as the T20 World Cup moves into its next phase.
