Marcus Stoinis and David Warner rescued Australia from an uncomfortable situation in the T20 World Cup 2024. In their first match against Oman, they secured a comfortable 39-run victory on a tough Barbados field.
Then Glenn Maxwell fell for a golden duck, continuing his nightmare run with the bat. They were 50 for 3, and thoughts turned to what might happen next. But Stoinis and Warner added 102 off 64 balls to ensure Australia would not fall early in their pursuit for ICC titles in all three formats.
Stoinis was dropped on 9. Then he threw six sixes after recovering from a slow start. No doubt, Warner worked hard to become Australia’s greatest run-scorer in the men’s T20Is. But Stoinis utilized his expertise to keep the innings going.
Australia Ensures Slow But Steady Win
Australia was mostly efficient with the ball, with Mitchell Starc striking in the first over with a low full toss. He was later unable to finish his session as he left the field. But it was diagnosed as only a cramp–and Stoinis’s excellent day continued with three wickets.
Nathan Ellis, who was chosen ahead of the rested Pat Cummins, struck in his first over to earn his World Cup wicket. For considerably over half of Australia’s innings, the game was anything but one-sided. Scoring was difficult on a sloppy field, as Australia’s total after the powerplay was 37 for 1, the lowest in their last 15 T20Is dating back to the previous T20 World Cup.
Head delivered one well-timed cover drive early on. Yet, timing was a challenge for him and Warner. Head picked up mid-off with a drive to restore Bilal Khan’s spirits after his Super Over defeat against Namibia.
Great Efforts By Mitchell, Maxwell and Stoinis
Mitchell Marsh struggled to get going before picking out long-on. Then came Oman’s crucial moment. Maxwell, coming off an IPL average of 5.77, drove at Mehran Khan’s first delivery, and Oman skipper Aqib Ilyas dived full length to his left at cover to take a sensational catch. It was Maxwell’s fifth duck in ten Twenty20 innings.
Stoinis survived the hat-trick ball. But Australia’s pressure did not lessen right away. After ten overs, they were 56 for three, with the next two overs delivering only seven runs. Warner started to escape the shackles with successive boundaries off Zeeshan Maqsood, but it was a case of what could have been for Oman.
Stoinis Smashes Four Sixes in One Over
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On 9, Stoinis edged a spinning delivery from Ilyas that wicketkeeper Pratik Athavale couldn’t catch. It was difficult but not impossible! Two balls into Mehran’s following over, Ayaan Khan probably paid the price for not being right on the rope at long-off.
Since he clutched a decent catch but could not control his backward momentum, it carried him into the boundary. Stoinis hit the first of four sixes in the over, and he was off to the races, scoring a half-century off 27 balls.
Australia’s first 14 overs produced 80 runs, while the final six produced 84. Before this match, Ricky Ponting praised Warner’s winning mentality. He concluded his international career, saying he was ´the type of player needed at World Cups.’
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About the Author
Zartash Zulfiqar is a passionate cricket writer whose love for cricket shines through in every word. From match analyses to player profiles, she delivers insightful commentary that resonates with fans worldwide. Stay tuned for the latest from the world of cricket, brought to you by Zartash.
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