Bridgetown: In a spectacular display of all-round brilliance, Marcus Stoinis led Australia to a commanding 39-run victory over Oman at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, marking a strong start to their World Cup campaign on Thursday.
Stoinis etched his name in the history books by becoming only the third player, after Dwayne Bravo and Shane Watson, to score a half-century and take three or more wickets in a men's T20 World Cup game. His heroics were the cornerstone of Australia's triumph on a tricky pitch.
Opting to bat first, Australia faced initial struggles on the sluggish surface. Travis Head's early boundary was a rare highlight before he fell to Bilal Khan, and Oman’s disciplined bowling attack kept David Warner and Mitchell Marsh under wraps, restricting the Aussies to just 37 runs during the PowerPlay.
The match's turning point came in the 15th over of the Australian innings. Stoinis, having narrowly escaped an early dismissal, unleashed a flurry of four sixes off Mehran Khan. This over alone yielded 26 runs, transforming Australia's fortunes and propelling them to a competitive total of 164. Warner played a crucial supporting role, scoring a patient 56, while Stoinis remained unbeaten with a blistering 67 off 36 balls.
Oman's chase faltered from the start. Mitchell Starc set the tone with an early breakthrough, trapping Pratik Athavale LBW. Nathan Ellis, playing in place of Pat Cummins, and Stoinis further dismantled Oman's top order, leaving them reeling at 29/3 during the PowerPlay.
Stoinis's exceptional day continued with the ball, as he dismissed Zeeshan Maqsood and later removed Mehran in the death overs, securing his third wicket. Despite a late fightback from Ayaan Khan, who scored 36, and a spirited cameo from Mehran, Oman could only manage 125/9. Adam Zampa also made a significant contribution by taking the key wicket of Shoaib Khan, marking his 300th T20 wicket.
Australia's bowling unit was relentless, with Starc and Ellis providing crucial early breakthroughs and Stoinis and Zampa controlling the middle overs. Ayaan and Mehran’s late resistance gave Oman some consolation, but it wasn’t enough to pose a real threat to the Aussies.
This comprehensive performance by Australia sets the stage for their next high-octane clash against arch-rivals England on June 8, still in Barbados. Meanwhile, Oman will head to Antigua, where they'll face Scotland on June 9, aiming to bounce back from this defeat.
Brief Scores
Australia 164/5 in 20 overs (Marcus Stoinis 67*, David Warner 56; Mehran Khan 2-38)
Oman 125/9 in 20 overs (Ayaan Khan 36; Marcus Stoinis 3-19, Adam Zampa 2-24)
