Marcus Stoinis’s (67 runs and three wickets) stellar all-round show proved to be the difference between Australia and Oman, as the former began their ICC T20 World Cup campaign with a rather comfortable 39-run win. Oman could muster only 125 in a chase of 165.
However, at one particular juncture, Australia were in a spot of bother: They were 50 for 3 after 8.2 overs, when Glenn Maxwell was dismissed by Mehran Khan. David Warner and Stoinis then resurrected the innings with a stand of 102. It was Stoinis who played the key role, cracking Mehran for four sixes in a row in the 15th over.
From there on, it was always going to be a daunting task for Oman to make a comeback on another of those two-paced decks. Eventually, Warner fell in the 19th over off Kaleemullah, but by then the damage was already done. Despite being hit around in his final over, Mehran was the best bowler on show for Oman, bagging two crucial wickets for 38 runs.
Stoinis then combined with Mitchell Starc and Nathan Ellis to run through the Oman batting unit. By the end of the 8th over itself, Oman were tottering at 34 for 3, with Kashyap Prajapati, Pratik Athavale and Zeeshan and Maqsood all back in the hut. Ayaan Khan (36 runs), batting at number 6, and Mehran (27 runs), lower down the order, gave Oman’s score some sort of respectability.
Ultimately, Kaleemullah and Bilal Khan, the last pair, ensured that Oman wouldn’t get bowled out. For Australia, Mitchell Starc, Stoinis, Ellis and Adam Zampa shared the spoils. Australia next play England, their Ashes rivals, on June 8.