ICC MENS’ T20 WORLD CUP CONTINUES IN BARBADOS
Australia opened their campaign in the men’s T20 World Cup with a crushing victory over Oman on a sluggish pitch at Kensington Oval on Wednesday night.
Chasing 165 for victory Oman were restricted to 125 for nine wickets, they slumped to 34 for four wickets in the eighth over and never recovered. Player of the Match allrounder Marcus Stonis captured three wickets for 19 runs with his medium pace, left-hand fast bowler Mitchell Starc picked up two wickets for 20 runs, leg-spinner Adam Zampa and medium pacer Nathan Ellis chipped in with two wickets for 24 runs and two wickets for 28 runs respectively.
Ayaan Khan (36) and Mehran Khan (27) showed some resistance to the Australian bowlers, but the captain Aqib Ilyas (18) and Shakeel Ahmed (11) were the other batsmen to reach double figures.
Starc, who trapped Pratik Athavale lbw in his first over had to leave the field with soreness after bowling three overs.
Earlier Australia scored 165 for five wickets after Oman won the toss and decided to field, the Australia were stumbling at 50 for three after Mehran Khan picked up two wickets in the ninth over, the medium pacer had Mitchell Marsh caught by Shoaib Khan at mid-off for 14, and the next ball Glen Maxwell was caught by Ilyas who pulled off a flying catch at cover.
Stonis, who scored an unbeaten 67 from 36 balls, and veteran opening batter David Warner (56) repaired the innings with a fourth wicket partnership of 102. Stonis smashed half a dozen sixes and two fours; and Warner who anchored the innings during his 51-ball stay at the crease counted six fours and one six.
