Pallekele [Sri Lanka], February 21: With qualification hopes already extinguished, Australia played like a team determined to catch the earliest flight home, but not before making a statement.
In their final Group B clash of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, the former champions brushed aside Oman with emphatic ease, chasing down a modest target of 105 with nine wickets in hand and 62 balls to spare at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Friday night.
A dominant bowling display set up the victory before captain Mitchell Marsh and opener Travis Head turned the chase into a controlled exhibition of power hitting.
Australia's pursuit began with immediate intent. Marsh announced his approach by striking three boundaries off Shafiq Jan's opening over, setting a tempo that Oman struggled to contain.
The Associate nation could have had an early breakthrough when Marsh appeared trapped in front early, but they failed to review.
The Australian openers wasted little time imposing themselves. Head joined the assault with fluent strokeplay as the pair surged to 28 runs within the opening two overs. Oman introduced spin through Jay Odedra in search of control, but Marsh responded by launching the spinner for the longest six of the match - a towering strike straight over the bowler's head. Even when Shakeel Ahmad briefly stemmed the flow with a tight over, the pressure quickly returned.
Shafiq Jan's second over disappeared for 16 runs as Australia's aggressive intent intensified. Head found consecutive boundaries, Marsh cleared the ropes again, and Oman's fielders were soon chasing leather across the outfield.
Wasim Ali's introduction before the end of the powerplay brought no respite. Marsh punished the over with three boundaries and a towering six that crashed into the giant scoreboard, underscoring Australia's dominance.
By the end of the powerplay, the contest had effectively been decided. Australia stood at 73 without loss, delivering a clinical demonstration of controlled aggression.
Marsh reached his half-century from just 26 deliveries, peppering the boundary with authority. Head complemented him perfectly, rotating strike and punishing loose deliveries as the chase moved rapidly towards its inevitable conclusion.
Even as Oman searched for consolation breakthroughs, Australia maintained relentless momentum. Boundaries flowed with mechanical precision, reducing the equation to a mere formality.
Shakeel Ahmad eventually broke the opening partnership when Head miscued a stroke and the bowler completed a sharp return catch, dismissing the left-hander for a brisk 32 from 19 deliveries. By then, however, the result had long been beyond doubt.
Josh Inglis joined Marsh to complete the chase with minimal fuss, sealing Australia's second victory of the tournament and ensuring their campaign concluded with authority rather than regret. Marsh stayed unbeaten on 64 with seven boundaries and four maximums
Earlier, Australia's bowlers had laid the platform with a disciplined and multifaceted display that dismantled Oman for 104 in just 16.2 overs.
The tone was set dramatically from the very first delivery of the match. Xavier Bartlett's full, swinging ball crashed into Aamir Kaleem's stump, handing Australia an immediate breakthrough and exposing Oman's vulnerability against high-quality pace.
Despite the early setback, Oman showed resilience during the powerplay. Karan Sonavale struck a confident boundary to steady the innings, while captain Jatinder Singh counterattacked with a pair of crisp strokes. Their brief partnership lifted Oman to 47 for three by the end of six overs, a spirited effort given the early wicket of Kaleem.
Australia's pace attack, however, maintained relentless pressure. Nathan Ellis dismissed Sonavale when an inside edge deflected onto the stumps, while Bartlett returned to produce a searing delivery that breached Jatinder's defence for 17. Oman's attempts to rebuild were repeatedly halted by disciplined lines, and subtle variations.
The middle overs belonged emphatically to Australia's spin duo. Adam Zampa rediscovered his rhythm to devastating effect, striking in his first over to remove Hammad Mirza before trapping Mohammad Nadeem leg before wicket following a successful review. Glenn Maxwell complemented him superbly, exploiting the grip available from the surface to restrict scoring opportunities and force errors.
Amid the collapse, Wasim Ali emerged as Oman's lone pillar of resistance. Displaying composure against a world-class attack, he compiled a determined 32 from 33 deliveries, anchoring the innings even as wickets fell around him. Yet meaningful partnerships remained elusive. Vinayak Shukla fell attempting to accelerate, Jiten Ramanandi was trapped by Maxwell, and Oman's batting order gradually unravelled.
Zampa finished with outstanding figures of four for 21, while Maxwell's economical two for 13 highlighted Australia's stranglehold through the middle overs. Bartlett's incisive opening spell, supported by Ellis and Marcus Stoinis, ensured every Australian bowler - except Cameron Green - contributed to the dismantling effort.
After the match, Bartlett reflected on Australia's collective effort, noting that early swing encouraged the bowlers to attack the stumps and maintain pressure. He acknowledged the tournament had been frustrating overall but credited Marsh's leadership for motivating the side to finish strongly - a sentiment reflected in Australia's sharp performance.
For Oman, the defeat marked a fourth successive loss in a campaign that never found rhythm. Despite flashes of promise and individual contributions, they struggled in batting and bowling departments.
Brief scores: Oman 104 in 16.2 overs (Jatinder Singh 17, Wasim Ali 32; Adam Zampa 4/21, Glenn Maxwell 2/13, Xavier Bartlett 2/27) lost to Australia 108/1 in 9.4 overs (Mitchell Marsh 64*, Travis Head 32; Shakeel Ahmed 1/29).
Source: Times of Oman
