Australia, Ireland out of cricket T20 World Cup as Zimbabwe qualify after washout
Zimbabweans join Sri Lanka as qualifiers and make Super 8s for the first time, the Australians had needed an Irish win to keep hopes alive
Former champions Australia were knocked out of the T20 World Cup on Tuesday, with Zimbabwe qualifying for the Super Eights after their match against Ireland was washed out without a ball being bowled in Kandy.
The no-result in Pallekelle meant Zimbabwe qualified for the second stage of the tournament for the first time.
Zimbabwe joined Sri Lanka as qualifiers from Group B and will move on to Group One to face the West Indies, India and South Africa in the next phase. Ireland were also eliminated.
The Sri Lankans will be in Group Two with England, New Zealand and Pakistan or the United States.
Persistent drizzle all day kept the covers on at the Pallekelle stadium and the umpires finally called it off at 5.30pm local time (8pm Hong Kong time) with no prospect of beginning the minimum five-over match before the 6.10pm cut-off time.
Zimbabwe stunned 2021 champions Australia by 23 runs last week – repeating their feat of the inaugural edition of the tournament 19 years ago – to leave the Australians in a precarious position.