T20 World Cup 2024
Stoinis smashed 67 runs and bagged 3 wickets as his team opened their tournament campaign with an easy victory | Uganda created history by claiming their first victory in the T20 World Cup
Barbados
Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis led his team to victory against Oman in their opening T20 Cricket World Cup match on Thursday at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Kangaroos won the match by 39 runs.
Stoinis smashed a triumphant half-century and bagged three wickets as his team opened their tournament campaign with an easy Group B victory.
The all-rounder conjured a game-changing 67 not out off just 36 balls to power Australia to 164-5 and then got among the wickets as Oman were restricted to 125-9 in response in the 20-over game.
Australia’s Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa and Nathan Ellis claimed two wickets each with Oman losing players at regular intervals during the run-chase.
Ayaan Khan was the top-scorer with 36 runs in 30 balls.
Earlier, Oman won the toss and decided to field first against Australia.
Despite reducing Australia to 50-3 in the ninth over, Oman ended up conceding 164-5 in 20 overs.
David Warner also notched up a fifty, scoring 56 runs in 51 balls.
Mehran Khan registered figures of 2-38 in four overs for Oman.
Australia are eyeing to achieve the elusive triple crown of World Test Champions, ODI World Champions, and T20 Champions.
On the other side of the pitch, Oman did not have the best start to the tournament and are looking to bounce back from a heart-wrenching defeat against Namibia.
“We were going to bowl first as well. Green, Agar, Inglis and Cummins are missing. Back of the tournament I am hoping I can be a complete all-rounder. We are excited to start the World Cup,” Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said at the toss.
Meanwhile, Claiming their first win in the T20 World Cup history, Uganda defeated Papua New Guinea by three wickets at the Providence Stadium, Guyana on Thursday.
Chasing a modest target of 78 runs at the Providence Stadium, Guyana, Uganda reached home in the 19th over for the loss of seven wickets.
Riazat Ali Shah played a resolute knock and scored 33 runs in 56 balls with the help of a four.
Uganda had lost five wickets for just 26 runs but Riazat and Juma Miyagi, 13 off 16, added 35 runs in 43 balls for the sixth wicket to keep their side in the match.
“It was not easy to bat on this wicket. When I was in, we lost a lot of wickets and I had to stay in. The target was not such that I had to hit big boundaries,” Riazat said after the match.
“It is our first World Cup and first win of the World Cup–it is a special moment for us. Coming to the big stage, it is an amazing feeling and thanks to all our supporters back home and for our fans around the world.
“Whether we were on the up or down, they have always supported us. After the first game, we were a bit down but we knew how talented we are, and we wanted to show the world how good we are.”
Alei Nao and Norman Vanua claimed two wickets for PNG.
Earlier, Uganda won the toss and decided to bowl first against PNG during the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.
The decision was spot on as PNG were dismissed for only 77 runs in 19.1 overs. Only three PNG batters managed to get into double figures in a sorry batting display.
Alpesh Ramjani, Cosmas Kyewuta, Juma Miyagi and Frank Nsubuga claimed two wickets each for Uganda.
Both teams came into this match after defeats in their opening fixtures. PNG made a spirited effort against the hosts West Indies in their first match, while Uganda received a stiff lesson from Afghanistan.
