Australia vs Oman: T20 World Cup coverage from Barbados, Marcus Stoinis stars with bat and ball in win
Following a man of the match performance in Australia’s comprehensive win over Oman in their World Cup opener, gun all-rounder Marcus Stoinis credited a former Aussie coach and his current IPL coach for his strong form.
Justin Langer may have been frozen out of the Australian team, but he has been warmly credited for helping Marcus Stoinis prepare for his Hulk-like start to the World Cup.
Stoinis unleashed a powerhouse display with bat and ball to destroy Oman in Australia’s first group game, taking confidence from a commanding century he scored for the Langer-coached Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League.
Australia is quickly turning its attention to their next game against England in Barbados on Saturday (Sunday morning AEST), with concerns eased over Mitchell Starc coming from the field early against Oman due to cramp.
David Warner once again proved critics wrong, making a vital half century (56 off 51 balls) which was as tough as it was classy, as Australia lifted from a position of early trouble at 3-52 to a comprehensive 39-run victory, having posted 164 batting first.
Stoinis was immense – blazing 67 not out off 37, including six humungous sixes – but then delivered again with the ball with figures of 3-19 as Oman finally ran out of steam at 9-125.
The big all-rounder has arrived in the Caribbean fit and firing, and spoke highly of the experience of once again playing under Langer in his coaching comeback.
“JL was brilliant. (We’ve) had quite a few coaches there at Lucknow. We had JL, Adam Voges, Lance Klusener, Morne Morkel and Sridharan Sriram, who had been with us in the Aussie team for a long time as well. It was a very familiar coaching group for me. JL led that but also delegated really well to all of them,” Stoinis said.
“It was good. It was good to see him back coaching again.
“Look it was a nice (IPL to reflect on after making a big century). I’ve been going to the IPL for 10 years now. It always feels at the end of IPL when you finish IPL you’re a better player. It’s a nice way to lead into a World Cup.”
Stoinis was one of the clutch stars for Australia in their sole T20 World Cup triumph in the UAE in 2021 and was also the best of a poorly performed team at the home T20 tournament in 2022.
In Barbados, the 34-year-old veteran changed the momentum of the game against Oman after Australia was at one point reeling after captain Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell were dismissed in consecutive deliveries – Maxwell to a freak catch from Oman skipper Aqib Ilyas which will go down as one of the moments of the tournament.
Australia had its slowest power play (1-37) of its past 15 internationals and were just 3-63 through 12 overs after being sent in to bat first.
However, after Warner broke a 30-ball boundary drought to smash consecutive fours in the 13th over – Stoinis then took it to another level when he dispatched four sixes out of the ground in an epic 26-run over.
Australia piled on 101 runs from the last eight overs and even after his hitting, Stoinis wasn’t finished yet and his bowling – the attribute which most prominently gets him the nod ahead of Cameron Green in these conditions – was equally brilliant.
Stoinis had 2-7 from his first two overs, and claimed a third thanks a brilliantly athletic catch from Tim David, who straddled the boundary rope, throwing the ball up and grounding himself back into play at just the right moment.
Both Stoinis and Warner also passed significant milestones.
Warner overtook Aaron Finch’s mark of 3120 to become the highest ever run-scorer for Australia in T20 internationals, while Stoinis bludgeoned his way past 1000 career runs in T20 internationals.
Fresh from claiming a first-over scalp in the recent IPL final as he has done so many times throughout his glittering career – most notably the 2015 World Cup final at the MCG – Starc did it again at Kensington Oval to immediately put Oman on the back foot.
Spinner Adam Zampa found some form – vital for Australia given the proven World-Cup match-winner has not played cricket for months and took two wickets, as did Nathan Ellis, who got a crack ahead of Pat Cummins, who was rested.
Recap all the action from Barbados below!
2:21PM: AUSTRALIA SECURE THE WIN BY 39 RUNS
After a modest total posted by the Australians, it was a comfortable win in the end, despite failing to bowl out Oman. Chasing 165 to win, Oman finished 9/125 with Marcus Stoinis adding 3-19 to his earlier 67 not out, which ultimately set up the victory and earned him player of the match honours.
2.00PM: AUSSIES ON CUSP OF OPENING WIN
Oman has been brave and entertaining in Barbados, but it was always going to be a big ask to defeat Australia.
Oman has been brave and entertaining in Barbados, but it was always going to be a big ask to defeat Australia. They’re 7-109, 55 runs short of Australia with two overs of the match remaining.Mitchell Starc’s setback remains a huge talking point for the Aussies.
1.45PM: STARC SCARE FOR AUSSIES
Mitchell Starc has sent a shock through the Australian camp after leaving the field with what Mitchell Marsh’s team will be hoping is just cramp.
Australia were not about to take any risks with Starc, getting him straight off the field after he pulled up sore following a delivery in the back-end of the clash against Oman.
The fact Starc was sipping on pickle juice (or something similar) suggested it’s likely a cramp - conditions in Barbados are hot.
Australia will be desperately hoping it’s nothing more sinister, given how critical he is to the team’s hopes of winning the World Cup.
This was illustrated by his first-over wicket - the 51st time in international cricket he’s taken a wicket in the opening over.
Australia will be hoping Starc is right for Saturday’s next clash against England, although no risks will be taken if there is any concern.
Medicos will be conscious of the fact Starc has just finished an exhausting IPL season and endured a horror 60-hour transit to the West Indies.
Pat Cummins was rested for those sort of reasons for this opener against Oman, and Australia will not take a gamble on Starc even if it means missing the England clash.
1.40PM: ANOTHER MILESTONE AS ZAMPA JOINS THE PARTY
Adam Zampa has celebrated the 300th wicket of his T20 career. Shoaib Khan came unstuck trying to get down the track, with a quicker delivery making a mess of the stumps. Mehran Khan has just hammered Oman’s second six of the innings, but his side is in major strife at 6-86. They need 97 from six overs.
1.30PM: STARC STRIKES AS AUSSIES TURN THE SCREWS
Mitchell Starc was briefly on a hat-trick ... but Shoaib Khan has successfully reviewed his lbw verdict. The end of the 12th over was eventful. Khalid Kail’s eyes lit up at a wide delivery from Starc and he picked out Glenn Maxwell in the deep. Shoaib Khan was judged lbw, but the ball-tracking replay overturned the dismissal. The equation is now very intimidating for Oman, they’re 5-65 and need a further 109 runs from 48 balls.
1PM: STOINIS GOLDEN DAY CONTINUES
Stoinis has left his fingerprints all over this game. Fresh off a game-changing half-century, he’s struck twice in two overs with the ball to leave Oman firmly in trouble.
The all-rounder finds the edge of Oman captain Aqib Ilyas (18) in his first over, before doing the same to Zeeshan Maqsood to leave Oman at 4-35 after eight overs.
It’s a third wicket in four overs for the Australians, after Nathan Ellis trapped Kashyap Prajapati plumb in front for seven.
12:35PM: STARC ROCKS OMAN IN FIRST OVER
The emperor of first-over wickets has struck again to sink Oman dreams in Barbados.
Mitchell Starc claimed a first-over scalp in the recent IPL final as he has done so many times throughout his glittering career – most notably the 2015 World Cup final at the MCG.
And he did it again at Kensington Oval as Australia look to defend 164.
The only person who struggled more than the Oman openers in the first over was umpire Joel Wilson who incorrectly called two lbw decisions.
Wilson called Starc’s lbw not out on field after believing he had hit the ball into his pad.
Replays confirmed Starc had, but not before it had clipped his pad first.
At the end of the over, Wilson decided to fire the Omani batsman, but again he was proved wrong on television replays which showed the ball was massively down the leg side.
12:15PM: STOINIS AND WARNER CARRY AUSTRALIA TO BIG TOTAL
Marcus Stoinis unleashed his inner-Hulk and David Warner proved critics wrong again to put Australia in the box seat to shatter Oman’s dreams in Barbados.
Australia was in genuine strife at 3-52 when captain Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell departed in successive balls – Maxwell to an all-time catch from Oman’s inspirational captain, Aqib Ilyas.
In desperately slow conditions at Kensington Oval a million miles from the high-scoring roads rolled out in the recent Indian Premier League – Australia had its slowest power play (1-37) of its past 15 internationals and were just 3-63 through 12 overs.
However, the turning point came in the 13th, when veteran Warner broke a 30-ball boundary drought to smash consecutive fours.
Then Stoinis jumped right on the back to engineer an epic 26-run over when he dispatched four sixes out of the ground.
Stoinis finished 67 not out off just 36 balls and Warner was out in the second last over for a superb 56 off 51 balls.
The pair combined for a 100 run stand from 63 balls, with Australia piling on 101 runs from the last eight overs to finish with 164 – which should be a winning score on a tough pitch.
Warner was written off by critics before the tournament, but this innings once again proved why he is indispensable in big tournaments.
Playing in his last series for Australia, Warner’s skill against spin bowling on slow pitches came to the fore and he kept a calm head when wickets were falling around him.
Stoinis’ then cashed in on that platform with an awesome display of power hitting – finishing with six sixes.
Both men also passed significant milestones. Warner overtook Aaron Finch’s mark of 3120 to become the highest ever run-scorer for Australia in T20 internationals, while Stoinis bludgeoned his way past 1000 career runs in T20 internationals.
12:05PM: STOINIS JOINS THE 1000-RUN CLUB
Marcus Stoinis has hammered his sixth six of the innings to bring up 1000 international T20 runs as Australia powers towards what should be a winning score on a slow pitch against Oman.
12PM: HALF-CENTURY MEN PUT AUSTRALIA BACK ON TRACK
Marcus Stoinis has smashed his fifth six to bring up a sensational unbeaten 50 off just 27 balls against Oman in Barbados.
While other batsmen have struggled to find the boundary rope, Stoinis has opened his shoulders and changed the game with his sheer power.
David Warner joined Stoinis on 50 an over later, smashing his first six to bring up his half century from 46 balls.
Warner’s knock hasn’t had Stoinis’ power, but his skill, calmness and experience under pressure against good spin bowling on a very slow wicket has been pure class and critical in Australia navigating their way to what should be a highly competitive score against Oman
11:45AM: STOINIS’ BUMPER OVER TRANSFORMS INNINGS
Marcus Stoinis has finally broken the shackles for Australia, smashing four sixes in an over to change the momentum of an absorbing World Cup struggle in Oman.
If Australia go onto win the match against the plucky associate nation, Stoinis’ destruction derby in the 15th over will be looked back upon as the turning point.
However, it could have been very different.
Stoinis was actually caught attempting the first six, but the fieldsman was not able to keep his feet and fell over the boundary rope to gift him the maximum. That was the half chance Stoinis needed to punish Oman as he dispatched three of the next four balls he faced for massive sixes down town.
Stonis’ had looked troubled by Oman’s spin, but showed his power and class when it was time to put the foot to the floor.
Warner’s steady 43 has been the backbone for Australia and his skill and experience against slow balling has proven decisive.
Four sixes in an over from Marcus Stoinis has got Australia right back in the game. 💥
— CODE Cricket (@codecricketau) June 6, 2024
AUS 3/106 (16). ðŸ
BLOG âž¡ï¸ https://t.co/87Dz7WnSuk#T20WorldCup#AUSvsOMApic.twitter.com/XPZKz2plFG
11:32AM: WARNER BREAKS DROUGHT
David Warner has broken a 30-ball boundary drought for Australia and then smashed consecutive fours to release the pressure-valve on the favourites in Barbados.
On a particularly slow international pitch, the outrageous scoring seen in the recent IPL is being quickly put in the rear-vision mirror.
This tournament is a completely different beast.
To Oman’s credit, they have put everything in the spot and made scoring very difficult for Australia.
Warner is leading the way with an expert 41 off 38 balls, with his class and experience – particularly on slow pitches – coming to the fore.
Australia were 3-75 after 13 overs, but Oman are still creating chances.
Marcus Stoinis was dropped on 7 off 12, although it was a difficult chance for the wicketkeeper standing up to spinner and Oman captain Aqib Ilyas.
11:15AM: AUSTRALIA IN TROUBLE AS MAXI FALLS FOR GOLDEN DUCK
Glenn Maxwell has been spectacularly dismissed for a first ball duck after Oman’s cancer-surviving captain Aqib Ilyas took the catch of the World Cup.
One delivery after Mitchell Marsh had fallen to leave Australia 2-50, the favourites are suddenly in real trouble thanks to one of the great diving grabs likely to be taken in this tournament.
Ilyas, fielding at extra cover, threw himself full length to his left after Maxwell threw everything at an attempted drive through the off-side.
The catch stuck in both hands – adding another chapter to the remarkable career tale of Ilyas.
Marcus Stoinis survived the hat-trick delivery from Mehran Khan but Oman is on a roll.
Australia’s 1-37 was their slowest power play of their past 15 matches on a tough Barbados pitch that is slow and difficult for scoring.
Marsh could not get enough of an attempted lofted straight drive and was caught on the boundary rope.
It continues Maxwell’s lean run in T20 cricket after he endured a trying IPL (52 runs at 5.77).
11AM: WARNER MAKES HISTORY
David Warner has surpassed Aaron Finch to become Australia’s highest ever run-scorer in Twenty20 internationals.
Finch is in commentary and was there first-hand to witness the moment good friend Warner knocked off his record of 3120 runs in the shortest format.
Warner has taken just one more match than Finch to reach the record, in this his 104th T20 – and final series of international cricket for Australia.
Before the tournament, Australian leader Pat Cummins declared Warner – and Glenn Maxwell – arguably the country’s greatest ever T20 players.
Warner had to survive a stumping appeal against him when tied on Finch’s mark.
However, despite throwing everything at the spinning delivery from Oman, he managed to keep his foot grounded as the bails were whipped off.
11AM: EVEN STEVENS AFTER POWER PLAY
A satisfactory if not outstanding power play for the Australians, who finish it at 1-37 on a tacky surface.
The pitches of the Caribbean are a world away from the flatter surfaces of the IPL so expect a slower affair than what we have been accustomed to over the past month.
10:45am: HEAD FALLS EARLY AS OMAN TURN THE SCREWS
Oman has claimed the prized scalp of Travis Head to give their David versus Goliath mission in Barbados an early boost.
In the previous over, Oman’s desperation for a wicket spilled over when two-metre tall fast bowler Kaleemullah was warned by umpires for his over-the-top appeal for an lbw appeal to David Warner.
Kaleemullah charged at the umpire waving his heads and gesturing even the ball clearly pitched leg-side and the ball was going down.
But Oman’s passion paid off the very next over when Head couldn’t clear mid-off with an attempted lofted drive.
Bilal Khan was the wicket-taker, the only bowler of all associated nations with over 100 international wickets.
Head had slashed a couple of early boundaries, but couldn’t go on with the job.
He was among the most dominant batters of the IPL, but Travis Head has got off to a horror start to the T20 World Cup, falling for 12 to Bilal Khan.
A delivery after cashing in on a short ball with a dominant pull through square leg, he miscues a drive straight into the hands of cover. Australia 1-19 after three.
10:40AM: WARNER SURVISES SPIRITED APPEAL
A solid start from the Australians, with Travis Head and David Warner each hitting the boundaries in the first two overs – Head crunching Bilal Khan through the point in the first, and Warner doing the same to Kaleemullah through cover in the second.
There’s a big appeal from Kaleemullah for an lbw against Warner but it’s going down the leg. The big man can’t quite believe it with a prolonged appeal to both the umpire, and his captain for a review. Australia 0-13 after two.
10AM: AUSTRALIA’S SURPRISE SELECTION CALL
– Ben Horne
Australia has decided to stick with its tried and true formula of picking three fast bowlers regardless of the country they are in … but it has come with a twist.
Superstar Pat Cummins has been rested from the first match in Oman tonight, with Nathan Ellis to make his World Cup debut in the attack.
There was strong consideration given to playing second spinner Ashton Agar to make the most of Kensington Oval in Barbados’ history of spinners dominating.
Agar himself was a star of Australia’s last tour of the West Indies.
But selectors have decided to back in the death bowling of Hobart Hurricane – and Sydney junior – Ellis.
Oman won the toss and will bowl first, giving David Warner and Travis Head a chance to unleash first in Bridgetown.
Cummins is fully fit but it was felt his IPL workload and long flight to the Caribbean meant it was best to given him a gradual entry to the tournament.
He is likely to be back in the XI for Saturday’s match against England.
Australia has a squad mentality for this trip and it’s likely there will be some rotating of the best XI through the group matches.
9:30AM: T20 WORLD CUP STATE OF PLAY
Australia’s tournament may start today but we’ve already seen eight matches played out, with a ninth underway – while Australia plays Oman, Papua New Guinea is taking on Uganda.
Earlier this morning India beat Ireland by eight wickets, blowing Paul Stirling’s side away for 96 on a spicy New York track. It was a win that come at some cost however, with Rohit Sharma retiring hurt.
Namibia currently top Australia’s group, having won a super over thriller against Oman earlier in the tournament, with Scotland and England splitting the points in their Tuesday wash out.
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