Brief scores: Australia (108/1 in 9.4 ov) beat Oman (104-all out in 16.2 ovs) by nine wickets in the Pallekele Group B match.
Captain Mitchell Marsh and opener Travis Head powered Australia to a commanding nine-wicket win over Oman in their final group match in Pallekele, allowing them to close a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign on a positive note.
Australia vs Oman, T20 World Cup: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD
Already eliminated after shock defeats to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, Australia were playing only for pride. They responded with a clinical all-round performance, first skittling Oman for 104 in 16.2 overs before overhauling the target in just 9.4 overs – the joint fastest chase in tournament history for a total above 100.
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa led the bowling effort with four wickets, while pacer Xavier Bartlett struck twice, including with the first ball of the match. The bowlers operated in unison after Marsh won the toss and opted to field.
Wasim Ali top-scored for Oman with 32 off 33 balls, but there was little resistance elsewhere as wickets fell at regular intervals.
Bartlett set the tone immediately, shaping a length delivery back into Aamir Kaleem’s stumps first ball. Oman attempted to counterattack in the Powerplay through Karan Sonavale and skipper Jatinder Singh, but Nathan Ellis removed Sonavale with a hard-length delivery, and Marcus Stoinis ensured there was no shift in momentum.
Oman were 47 for 3 after six overs and struggled to stitch together partnerships. Zampa, who had endured a quiet tournament, found his rhythm as his quicker deliveries skidded on to disturb the stumps repeatedly. He claimed two wickets in successive deliveries as the middle and lower order folded without batting out their quota.
Glenn Maxwell, who had earlier put down a catch in the slips, made amends with two wickets as Australia maintained discipline throughout to set up a straightforward chase.
With the bat, Marsh and Head wasted little time. The pair stitched together a 93-run stand, dealing almost exclusively in boundaries as Oman’s bowlers searched in vain for answers.
Marsh remained unbeaten on 64 off 33 balls, striking seven fours and four sixes, while Head hammered 32 off 19 deliveries, finding the fence six times. Their aggressive intent ensured the chase was wrapped up inside 10 overs.
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