NEW DELHI: Australia defeated Oman by 39 runs at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Thursday to start their T20 World Cup campaign. Marcus Stoinis struck a rapid and undefeated half-century and took three wickets.
With a devastating unbroken 67-run knock off 36 balls, Stoinis helped Australia overcome a top-order collapse and amass 164/5 in the company of David Warner (56). After that, he recorded stats of 3-0-19-3, giving the 2021 winners two points.
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Oman attempted to match the opposition's might, but their inexperience was evident as they were only able to muster 125/9 in 20 overs.
After Nathan Ellis (2/28) and Mitchell Starc (2/20) each scored one run in the first three overs, Oman was pinned back.
in the third delivery of Oman's innings, Starc hit Pratik Athavale (0) in the pads with a nasty inswinger. However, Australia was obliged to pursue a DRS review when their on-field plea was turned down.
Ellis then pinned Kashyap Prajapati (7) in front of the wickets for the second wicket, and Oman attempted an unsuccessful review.
On the last ball of the powerplay, Stoinis delivered a body blow that took out Oman captain Aqib Ilyas (18), who was trying to go for a counterattack. Matthew Wade, who was alert behind the wickets the entire time, captured Ilyas.
In order to guarantee Australia's domination in the match, Stoinis also claimed Zeeshan Maqsood (1) when he got the batter caught behind in the ninth over.
Ayaan Khan postponed the inevitable late in their innings with a brilliant 30-ball 36 that included two fours and as many sixes while putting up 37 runs for the seventh wicket.
Australia managed to score 164/5 in 20 overs after being asked to bat first. The Australians' top-order collapse was halted by Stoinis' knock after opener Travis Head (12) and captain Mitchell Marsh (14) failed to convert their beginnings.
Glenn Maxwell, an experienced all-rounder, was knocked for a golden duck off Mehran after Ilyas made an incredible one-handed grab that flew parallel to the ground, adding to his misery with the bat.
Australia needed a comeback, having been reduced to 50/3 at one point. Stoinis and Warner put up 102 runs for the fourth wicket from 64 balls.
Warner proceeded to surpass former Australia captain Aaron Finch in terms of most runs (3,120) for the nation in the shortest format with a careful effort that saw him hit six fours and one six.
It took the left-handed Warner 104 matches for Australia to accomplish the feat.
Despite hitting two fours and six sixes in his 67 not out off just 36 balls, Stoinis was the more aggressive of the two.
Mehran Khan grabbed 2/38 for Oman, while Kaleemullah and Bilal Khan each claimed one wicket. With a meagre but impressive 4-0-18-0 period, Ilyas was followed closely by Shakeel Ahmed, who finished with a 4-0-28-0 effort.
(With PTI inputs)
