In a dramatic flip of occasions on the Pallekele Worldwide Cricket Stadium on February 17, 2026, rain has formally knocked Australia and Eire out of the T20 World Cup 2026. Persistent showers throughout the day meant that the essential Group B conflict between Zimbabwe and Eire was deserted with out a single ball being bowled.
The washout earned Zimbabwe the one level they wanted to succeed in a complete of 5 factors, a tally that Australia, at the moment sitting on 2 factors with just one recreation remaining, can not presumably match. This soggy conclusion to the day’s occasions has finalized Group B, confirming Zimbabwe’s historic development alongside co-hosts Sri Lanka, and leaving the 2021 champions to ponder their earliest event exit in almost 20 years.
Rain-ruined hopes in Pallekele: Australia’s second-ever group stage exit in T20 World Cup historical past
The Australian marketing campaign, which had already been pushed to the brink following shock back-to-back defeats in opposition to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, has formally met its demise within the Pallekele rain. With just one remaining fixture in opposition to Oman on February 20, Mitchell Marsh’s facet can now solely attain a most of 4 factors, leaving them stranded behind Zimbabwe’s 5 and Sri Lanka’s 6.
This marks solely the second time in T20 World Cup historical past that the Males from Down Underneath have did not progress previous the opening spherical, a feat beforehand seen solely in 2009. The group’s failure to adapt has been compounded by a brutal ‘groin disaster’ that sidelined captain Marsh for the opening two video games and a string of late accidents to their premier tempo assault, together with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. Even Marsh’s valiant return in opposition to Sri Lanka, the place he smashed a brisk 54, was not sufficient to beat a record-breaking century by Pathum Nissanka, leaving Australia depending on an Irish miracle that by no means got here.
Right here’s how followers reacted:
Who would have thought on the seventh of Feb that England could be one shot away from shedding to Nepal,that Pakistan could be one catch away from doubtlessly going out of the event, that India would have a serious scare in opposition to the USA and that Australia could be knocked out early
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 17, 2026
Zimbabwe group certified into Super8🔥
Australia group out of the group stage 😂#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/xI6MSUPG5f— Karthi (@vvskarthii) February 17, 2026
Zvaendwa
Zimbabwe to the Tremendous 8🇿🇼🇿🇼🇿🇼Match deserted, off we go to the Tremendous 8😭😭😭because of Mbuya Nehanda’s intervention. You see the significance of getting that mvura ngainaye half in our nationwide anthem, Australia should pack their baggage to the airport asap
— Reward Chisiiwa (@Chisiiwagift) February 17, 2026
Australia are out of the event. I hadn’t thought of this as a risk even in my wildest goals.#T20WorldCup
— Cricketologist (@AMP86793444) February 17, 2026
Australia at the moment are out of the T20 World Cup 3 consecutive instances with out reaching the semi finals of it since profitable the tittle in 2021 ☠️#T20WorldCup
— SPORTY HIRESH (@SportyHiresh) February 17, 2026
Rain wins in Pallekele and Zimbabwe turn into the seventh group to get a ticket to the Tremendous 8s. It additionally means it is the tip of the street for each Australia and Eire
— CricTalks (@TheCricTalk_) February 17, 2026
Rain has washed away Australia’s World Cup hopes. An early exit like that is virtually unprecedented of their historical past. Zimbabwe qualifies for Tremendous 8.#T20WorldCup #WorldCup2026 @aaliaaaliya @cricketcomau pic.twitter.com/x9HhPA387w
— Rana Ahmad Shaheed (@RAhmadshaheed) February 17, 2026
Even the rain gods need Zimbabwe within the Tremendous 8s so that they’ve made it occur. The sport is washed out and has eradicated Eire together with the mighty Aussies! Totally deserved for Zimbabwe! They’ve simply been higher than Australia this time round! #ZimvsIre #T20WorldCup
— Rishyan R G (@RishyanRG) February 17, 2026
It is proper to say Australia are out of the event and goes down beneath as a result of technically they’re already there –
Down Underneath.— 𝘼𝙨𝙝-𝗐𝗂𝗇 𝖥𝖾𝗋𝗇-&-𝙚𝙨 (@ashshanuferns) February 17, 2026
🚨 MATCH ABANDONED 🚨
The match between Eire vs Zimbabwe has been referred to as off as a result of rain 🌧🌧
– Zimbabwe at the moment are via to the Tremendous Eight. Australia and Eire are out 🏏#IREvZIM #ZimbabweCricket #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/4umAPTyVxJ
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 17, 2026
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T20 World Cup 2026 Tremendous 8 stage roadmap: Teams and high-stakes venues confirmed
With Zimbabwe securing the seventh ticket to the Tremendous 8s, the second section of the event is now virtually solely set, that includes a division between the 2 host nations. Zimbabwe’s qualification locations them in Group G1, the place they are going to journey to India to compete in opposition to event favorites India, South Africa and the West Indies.
Matches for this group are scheduled to be held at iconic venues together with the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, the place spin is anticipated to play a decisive function.
In the meantime, Group G2 will stay centered in Sri Lanka, consisting of Sri Lanka, England, New Zealand and the winner of the ultimate undecided spot from Group A (Pakistan or USA). These groups will battle it out on the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and the Pallekele Worldwide Cricket Stadium in Kandy, because the event shifts from the unpredictability of the group stage to the high-stakes stress of the Tremendous 8 qualifiers beginning February 21.
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