The Australian men’s cricket team began its ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign in Group B with a 39-run victory over Oman in Bridgetown, Barbados on Thursday.

Riding on an unbeaten 36-ball 67 from Marcus Stoinis, Australia overcame a sluggish start to post 164/5 after being 56/3 in 10 overs. The 2021 champions then rocked Oman early in the run chase. Stoinis (3/19) led a strong show with the ball to keep Oman to 125/9 in 20 overs.

Australia lost the toss and were put into bat first. With tight lines and lengths on a slow surface, Oman kept the Australian batters quiet and gave away 37/1 in the powerplay. Travis Head was out for a 10-ball 12 in the third over.

Wickets of Aussie skipper Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell on back-to-back balls in the ninth over bowled by Mehran Khan reduced Australia to 50/3.

Opener David Warner started slowly but ensured Australia had a set batter on the crease to navigate the tricky situation. Marcus Stoinis also took his time, scoring nine of his first 14 balls and surviving with a dropped catch.

However, Stoinis shifted the momentum in Australia’s favour with four sixes in the 15th over bowled by Mehran Khan, who had gone for 2/12 in the first three overs.

Stoinis brought up his third T20I fifty with a six in the 17th over. Warner followed suit, bringing up his half-century with a maximum in the 18th over.

Warner departed in the 19th over after scoring 56 off 51 but the 102-run partnership helped Australia post 164/5 in 20 overs. While Australia scored 80 in the first 14 overs, the back six yielded 84 runs.

David Warner, who now has 3155 runs for Australia in the T20Is, overtook former skipper Aaron Finch as the country’s top run-scorer in the format.

While Australia built their innings after an early wobble, Oman did not recover after Australian bowlers reduced them to 29/3 in the powerplay.

Ayaan Khan (36 off 30) and Mehran Khan (27 off 16) put on a late fightback but with the asking rate increasing every over, Oman eventually fell short by 39 runs.

Marcus Stoinis picked up 3/19 and was Australia’s top wicket-taker. Mitchell Starc (2/20), Adam Zampa (2/24) and Nathan Ellis (2/28) picked up two wickets each.

Australia will play defending champions England in their next T20 World Cup match in Group B at the same venue on Saturday.

Australia vs Oman T20 World Cup 2024 brief scores: Australia 164/5 in 20 overs (Marcus Stoinis 67*; Mehran Khan 2/38) beat Oman 125/9 in 20 overs (Ayaan Khan 36, Marcus Stoinis 3/19) by 39 runs.