ODI World Champions Australia started their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign with a win against minnows Oman on Thursday. Australia, put in to bat first, rode on half-centuries from David Warner and Marcus Stoinis to put up a respectable total of 164. Their bowling unit, let by Mitchell Starc, did the rest as Australia achieved victory by 39 runs.
Jittery start by Australia
Australia started the match on the front foot after having lost the toss. David Warner and Travis Head, one of the most lethal opening pairs of the T20 World Cup, started strongly. However, Head departed early, leading to captain Mitchell Marsh’s arrival. The Kennington Oval pitch in Barbados wasn’t easy to bat on, and the Aussie found it difficult to go through with their shots.
Marcus Stoinis’ counterattack
After struggling for a while, Marsh departed by scoring just 14 runs from 21 balls. Glenn Maxwell, who has been having a torrid few months, was removed for a golden duck courtesy of a diving catch from captain Aqib Ilyas. Just when it looked like an upset could be on the cards, on came Marcus Stoinis.
Stoinis scored an unbeaten 36-ball 67 while David Warner completed his half century to help Aussies reach a respectable 164 runs.
Oman struggle in front of charged-up Aussies
Needing 165 to win, Oman struggled right from the start as Mitchell Starc breathed fire. Starc took a wicket in the first over itself while Nathan Ellis removed the other opener to set up a comfortable victory. Oman kept losing wickets as the chase became steeper with every over.
Oman needed 96 runs from the last 6 over with 4 wickets in hand. Ayan Khan tried to take the game close with a 30-ball 36 but was dismissed by Adam Zampa to put in the last nail in the coffin.
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