Stoinis Stars as Australia Dominates Oman in T20 Opener

Australia defeated Oman 39 runs to begin their campaign for a grand slam of international cricket championships at the T20 World Cup in Barbados on Wednesday. Marcus Stoinis was outstanding with the bat and the ball.

At Kensington Oval, Stoinis struck a game-changing 67 not out off only 36 balls to lead Australia to 164-5. He then claimed three wickets for 19 runs, limiting Oman to 125-9 in response.

67 runs off 36 balls 🔥
Figures of 3/19 👊

Marcus Stoinis produced a stellar performance to bag the @aramco POTM 🏅#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/awHIOMfBvq

— ICC (@ICC) June 6, 2024

“It was a nice start,” remarked player of the match Stoinis in the post-match interview. “We may have had some obstacles, but we’ve grown as a result, and it’s good that we prevailed.

“And nice that I got to spend some time in the middle and have a bit of a bowl.”

With two fours and six sixes in his brilliant batting display, Stoinis spearheaded Australia’s comeback after they had been behind 50-3 earlier in the innings.

After seamer Mehran Khan had dismissed successive balls from skipper Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell in the 11th over, Australia finally got going thanks in part to a half century from David Warner.

Following a quiet first few overs, Stoinis launched an assault, leading a 102-run partnership at the fourth wicket to essentially seize the upper hand from the Omanis.

Before collapsing in the last over, Warner scored 56 off 51 balls, including six fours and one six, in his last competition before quitting the international team.

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With a total of 3,155 runs, Warner’s innings helped him surpass previous skipper Aaron Finch to become Australia’s most run scorer in T20 Internationals.

In contrast, Mehran bowled four of Stoinis’ six sixes in the 15th over of the innings, setting off an acceleration that allowed the 2021 champions to more than treble their score during the final six overs of the game.

Stoinis continued, “Davey and I talked about before that over,” to explain the unexpected hitting barrage. “And then you know how it is when you get the first couple balls away for boundaries, you just think you might as well try to turn it into a big over.”

After Travis Head was removed early and the Marsh-Maxwell double-blow followed, Oman appeared ready for a fight, but they were defeated by Namibia in an exciting super over finale on Sunday.

But Australia’s competitive spirit carried them through that difficult time, and they won the first ever Test, One-Day, and T20 cricket titles as they launched their successful campaign.

Along with fellow pacer Nathan Ellis and leg-spinner Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc, who left the field early due to cramps, launched his signature early attack in defence of Australia’s score and concluded with two wickets.