All-round Stoinis powers Australia to winning start

Australia began their T20 World Cup campaign with a decisive 39-run victory over Oman at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, thanks largely to Marcus Stoinis’ all-around performance. He scored an unbeaten 67 off 36 balls and took three key wickets, 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.

Turning Point

The pivotal moment of the match occurred in the 15th over of Australia’s innings. Oman had been successful in restricting Australia’s scoring through the middle overs, but Stoinis’ onslaught in this over turned the tide. Surviving an early chance, Stoinis hammered four sixes, accumulating 26 runs and shifting the momentum in Australia’s favor.

Australia’s Innings

PowerPlay:

• Score: 37/1 (RR: 6.17)
• Key Events: Travis Head hit a boundary off the first ball but was dismissed soon after. David Warner and Mitchell Marsh struggled to find boundaries due to tight bowling by Oman, particularly by Bilal Khan.

Middle Overs:

• Score: 69/2 (RR: 7.67)
• Key Events: Australia faced a boundary drought for 30 balls as Oman bowlers, especially captain Aqib Ilyas and Mehran Khan, applied pressure. Mehran dismissed Marsh and Maxwell in the ninth over, leaving Australia at 63/3 by the 12th over. The tide turned with Warner and Stoinis managing crucial boundaries, especially during the 15th over when Stoinis smashed 26 runs.

Death Overs:

• Score: 58/2 (RR: 11.6)
• Key Events: Stoinis continued his aggressive batting, bringing up his half-century in 27 balls. Warner also reached his fifty off 46 balls. Stoinis’ late fireworks ensured Australia reached an above-par total of 164/5.

Oman’s Innings

PowerPlay:

• Score: 29/3 (RR: 4.83)
• Key Events: Mitchell Starc dismissed Pratik Athavale early. Nathan Ellis and Stoinis took key wickets, reducing Oman to 29/3 by the end of the PowerPlay.

Middle Overs:

• Score: 46/3 (RR: 5.11)
• Key Events: Stoinis continued his impressive day by removing Zeeshan Maqsood. Oman struggled to build partnerships, with Ayaan Khan’s brief resistance being the highlight.

Death Overs:

• Score: 50.3 (RR: 10.00)
• Key Events: Ayaan Khan and Mehran Khan provided some resistance with aggressive hitting. However, Stoinis claimed his third wicket, and Oman could only manage 125/9, falling short by 39 runs.

Match Summary

• Australia: 164/5 in 20 overs (Stoinis 67*, Warner 56; Mehran Khan 2-38)
• Oman: 125/9 in 20 overs (Ayaan Khan 36; Stoinis 3-19, Zampa 2-24)
• Result: Australia won by 39 runs

What’s Next?

• Australia: They remain in Barbados to face England on Saturday, June 8.
• Oman: They travel to Antigua to play against Scotland on Sunday.