T20 World Cup: Australia beat Oman by 39 runs to make winning start to the tournament

Marcus Stoinis starred with the bat and ball as he helped his side win their first game of the T20 World Cup by 39 runs. Oman started well with the ball but the well-oiled Australian machinery trampled past their challenge to take home their first points of the campaign. 

Oman skipper Aqib Ilyas called the toss right and decided to bowl first. Pat Cummins didn’t start for Australia as Josh Hazlewood made his comeback for the Kangaroos. The Oman team had lost their first game of the tournament to Namibia as the game went into super-over. 

Australia posted 164 runs on the board thanks to fighting fifties by David Warner and Marcus Stoinis. The pair added 102 runs for the 4th wicket to help Australia out of a dangerous situation with Stoinis staying not out on 67. 

Australian bowlers prove too hot to handle

Mitchell Starc got into the swing of things early as he got Australia the perfect start to their T20 World Cup campaign. Pratik Athavale who replaced Naseem Khushi was out for a first-ball duck to the Aussie pacer. 

Nathan Ellis then struck when he got the wicket of Prajapati for 7. Marcus Stoinis then turned hero with the ball as he got the wicket of Skipper Aqib Ilyas for 18 and then dismissed Zeeshan Maqsood for 1. 

Adam Zampa and Mitchell Starc then dismissed Khalid Kail and Shoaib Khan as the Oman team were struggling at 57/6. Ayaan Khan and Mehran Khan then added 32 runs for the 7th wicket to bring some semblance of respect to the Oman scoreboard. 

Ayaan Khan was the leading scorer with 36 runs from 30 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes. Mehran Khan meanwhile scored 27 runs from 18 balls with a four and 2 sixes. Marcus Stoinis was the best bowler with 3/19 from his 3 overs. Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, and Adam Zampa picked 3 wickets each for their side as Australia won the match by 39 runs.