PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka: Adam Zampa produced a masterful bowling performance to help Australia skittle Oman for 104 in 16.2 overs in their final Group B encounter of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Pallekele International Stadium.
The leg-spinner, who had endured a wicketless tournament until tonight, finished with sensational figures of 4-21 from 3.2 overs.
Asked to bowl first by captain Mitchell Marsh after winning the toss, Australia’s bowlers made an immediate breakthrough.
Xavier Bartlett struck on his very first delivery, removing opener Aamir Kaleem for a golden duck with just one ball bowled in the innings.
Jatinder Singh (17 off 15) and Karan Sonavale (12 off 11) attempted to rebuild, adding 24 runs for the second wicket before Nathan Ellis dismissed Sonavale in the fourth over.
Bartlett returned to claim the big wicket of Oman captain Jatinder Singh in the fifth over, reducing the Associate nation to 39 for 3.
Hammad Mirza showed some resistance with a brisk 16 off 13 balls, including one six, before becoming Zampa’s first victim in the eighth over.
From there, the Australian spinners tightened their grip on the innings.
Maxwell provides able support
Glenn Maxwell complemented Zampa beautifully, claiming 2-13 from his three tidy overs.
The off-spinner removed Wasim Ali, who top-scored with a battling 32 off 33 balls, and Jiten Ramanandi in quick succession to leave Oman reeling at 89 for 7.
Zampa returned to clean up the tail, picking up three more wickets, including Shakeel Ahmed and Shafiq Jan, who departed for a golden duck to become Zampa’s fourth victim.
Jay Odedra remained not out on 4 as Oman’s innings folded for 104.
Marcus Stoinis (1-16) and Xavier Bartlett (2-27) were the other wicket-takers for Australia, while Cameron Green bowled two economical overs without success.
Zampa Rediscovers Mojo
The performance marked a return to form for Zampa, who had gone wicketless in consecutive matches against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, his first such drought in two-and-a-half years.
His rhythm, drift, and sharp turn were back on display in conditions that finally suited his bowling.
Australia now need 105 runs for victory in what has been a dead rubber, with both teams already eliminated from the tournament following Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka’s qualification from Group B.
