(REUTERS)

Former champions Australia were eliminated from the Twenty20 World Cup in ​Sri Lanka on Tuesday while Zimbabwe progressed to the Super Eight stage ⁠of the tournament after their ​match against Ireland was abandoned ​due ‌to persistent rain ⁠in ​Pallekele.

The washout means Zimbabwe get one point, putting them second in Group B ‌on five points, one behind leaders ‌Sri Lanka, who beat Australia by eight wickets on Monday ​to secure their place in the next stage.

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.

The ‌toss scheduled for ‌14:30 local time (0900 GMT) had to be ⁠delayed with the covers still ​on at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, before officials ruled three hours later that no play would be possible.