Pallekeele (Sri Lanka): Wounded Australia concluded what has been a wretched campaign with a nine-wicket thrashing of Oman in their inconsequential final group league fixture of the T20 World Cup here on Friday.
Entering the game with only pride at stake after their shocking group-stage exit following losses to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, seasoned leg-spinner Adam Zampa led the way with four wickets as Australia’s bowlers fired in unison to bundle out Oman for 104 in 16.2 overs.
Skipper Mitchell Marsh then blazed away to an unbeaten 64 off 33 balls and Travis Head smashed 32 off 19 deliveries, as the team from Down Under completed the chase in only 9.4 overs. This is the joint fastest chase in the tournament’s history for a total in excess of 100.
Chasing a modest 105, the Australian openers wasted little time. Marsh set the tone in the opening over, clipping Bilal Shafiq through square leg before driving crisply through the covers and threading another boundary through the leg side.
A thick outside edge that flew past the slip cordon summed up Australia’s intent as they surged ahead. Oman captain Jatinder Singh turned to off-spinner Jay Odedra in the second over, but Marsh advanced down the track to launch him straight over the sightscreen.
Head joined the charge, striking confidently down the ground as Australia raced to 28 without loss after two overs. Left-arm seamer Shakeel briefly applied the brakes with a tight over, conceding just two runs and denying Marsh room to free his arms.
The respite was short-lived. Marsh flicked Shafiq over deep backward square leg for his second six, drawing a smile from his opening partner, before taking on Shakeel again. Australia brought up their fifty in just 4.1 overs, with Head punching through point to keep the momentum intact.
The target was never in doubt as Marsh and Head completed the chase without losing a wicket, sealing a crushing win to close out a disappointing campaign on a high.
Earlier, Australia’s bowlers produced a commanding bowling performance, dismissing Oman for 104 in 16.2 overs in their final Group match on Friday. Pacer Xavier Bartlett (2/27) and leg-spinner Adam Zampa (4/21) did the bulk of the damage after captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and chose to field.
Wasim Ali top-scored for Oman with 32. Bartlett made an immediate impact, striking with the first ball of the match as he shaped a length delivery back into Kaleem’s stumps.
The pitch, kept under cover because of rain, offered movement and carry, and Australia’s seamers extracted enough assistance to keep Oman under pressure despite a dropped catch by Glenn Maxwell in the slips.
Oman looked to counterattack in the Powerplay through Karan Sonavale and Jatinder Singh, but wickets fell at regular intervals. Nathan Ellis removed Sonavale with a hard length delivery, while Marcus Stoinis chipped in to ensure there was no momentum shift.
Oman were 47 for 3 after six overs and struggled to build partnerships thereafter. Zampa, who had been quiet earlier in the tournament, found his rhythm. His quicker deliveries skidded on to disturb the stumps repeatedly as Oman’s middle and lower order folded.
He finished with four wickets, including two in successive deliveries, as Oman failed to bat out their quota. Apart from Wasim Ali’s 32, there was little resistance. Australia’s bowlers stayed disciplined throughout to leave themselves a straightforward chase and bow out on a winning note.
