* Aussie opener David Warner thumps a fifty in final T20 world cup (Match 10)
By Marlon Dale Ferreira
Marcus Stoinis and David Warner pulled Australia out of a precarious position in their T20 World Cup 2024 opener against Oman, leading to a comfortable 39-run victory on a tricky Barbados pitch.
When Glenn Maxwell fell for a golden duck, continuing his nightmare run with the bat, Australia found themselves at 50 for 3. For a moment, there were concerns about what might unfold, but Stoinis and Warner added 102 off 64 balls to ensure Australia didn’t stumble early in their quest for ICC trophies across all formats.
Stoinis, who was dropped on 9, then hammered six sixes as he turned around a sluggish start, with Oman’s bowlers keeping the pressure on their high-profile opponents for 14 overs. Warner, who became Australia’s leading run-scorer in men’s T20Is, used his experience to stabilize the innings without throwing it away.
Australia then largely handled their bowling duties efficiently. Mitchell Starc struck in the opening over with an inswinging low full toss but couldn’t complete his spell due to cramps. Stoinis continued his fine day with three wickets, while Nathan Ellis, selected ahead of the rested Pat Cummins, claimed a maiden World Cup wicket in his first over.
For much of Australia’s innings, the game was far from one-sided. Scoring was tough on the niggly surface, and after the powerplay, Australia was at a meager 37 for 1, their lowest in their last 15 T20Is. Travis Head managed a well-timed cover drive early on, but otherwise, timing was hard to come by for both him and Warner. Head’s dismissal, picking out mid-off, lifted Bilal Khan’s spirits after his Super Over disappointment against Namibia.
Mitchell Marsh couldn’t get going and was caught at long-on, leading to Oman’s big moment. Maxwell, coming off an IPL where he averaged 5.77, drove at his first ball from Mehran Khan, and Oman captain Aqib Ilyas pulled off a spectacular full-length dive at cover. It was Maxwell’s fifth duck in 10 T20 innings.
Stoinis survived the hat-trick ball, but the pressure remained on Australia. After ten overs, they had crept to 56 for 3, with the next two overs only adding seven runs. Warner began to break the shackles with consecutive boundaries off Zeeshan Maqsood, but Oman missed their chance. On 9, Stoinis edged a turning delivery from Ilyas, but wicketkeeper Pratik Athavale couldn’t gather it. Two balls later, Ayaan Khan held a good catch at long-off but couldn’t stop his momentum from taking him into the boundary.
That was the first of four sixes Stoinis struck in the over, and from there, he was unstoppable, bringing up a half-century from 27 balls. Australia’s first 14 overs brought 80 runs, while the last six added 84.
Before the match, Ricky Ponting lauded Warner’s winning mentality as he nears the end of his international career. Warner couldn’t accelerate like Stoinis but reached a 46-ball fifty, surpassing former captain Aaron Finch as Australia’s leading run-scorer in T20Is. Finch, present as a broadcaster, appreciated the moment. Warner did have a slightly embarrassing moment when he almost walked into the Oman dressing room before being redirected.
A target of 165 was always going to be challenging for Oman. Starc’s opening over was mixed but effective, pinning Athavale lbw with a low full toss, confirmed via DRS. Oman benefited from the review system when Ilyas was incorrectly given lbw to Starc. Ilyas hit Stoinis for a six but edged a lifting delivery to Matthew Wade two balls later. Stoinis became only the third player, after Shane Watson and Dwayne Bravo, to score a fifty and take three wickets in a men’s T20 World Cup match. Despite the loss, Oman showed some fight, with Ayaan Khan hitting two sixes off Adam Zampa and Mehran ensuring they crossed 100 and batted out the innings.
Chief Scores
Australia 164 for 5 in 20 overs (Marcus Stoinis 67 not out, David Warner 54, Mehran Khan 2 for 38)
Oman 125 for 9 in 20 overs ( Ayaan Khan 36, Mehran Khan 27, Marcus Stoinis 3 for 19, Mitchell Starc 2 for 20, Adam Zampa 2 for 24, Nathan Ellis 2 for 28)
Player of the Match – Marcus Stoinis
