A career-best performance from Marcus Stoinis has helped a shaky Australia to an eventually commanding win over Oman to begin their T20 World Cup campaign on a winning note in Barbados. Coming in with Australia 3/50 and in a spot of bother after a stunning catch from Oman captain Aqib Ilyas removed Glenn Maxwell for a golden duck, Stoinis bludgeoned six sixes in an unbeaten 67 off just 36 balls to steer the favourites to safety, before two early wickets with the ball ensured the Associates’ run chase of 165 was never truly on track. He finished with 3/19 from three overs as Oman managed just 9/125 off their 20 overs to lose by 39 runs, with Australia’s biggest scare in the run chase a calf cramp that left Mitchell Starc unable to complete his fourth over.
Having lost his spot in Australia’s best ODI team during their successful World Cup run in India last year before missing out on a Cricket Australia central contract for the 2024/25 summer, the 34-year old Stoinis’ all-round heroics would have come as sweet relief, and a sign his international career is far from done. Having fought off pressure for his all-rounder spot from emerging prodigy Cameron Green and spin-bowling option Ashton Agar, Stoinis’ batting exploits have surely secured his spot for the remainder of the World Cup group stage at least, with a far tougher fixture against England at the same venue on Sunday (AEST) up next. “Just looking to hit the ball along the ground to start, just keep it simple,�.
