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10th over: Oman 73-5 (Ali 15, Shukla 4) Zampa nearly gets two in two! New batter Shukla pokes outside off and the easy catch flies through the vacant slip region and away for four. We’re halfway through the overs and the wickets.
WICKET! Mohammad Nadeem lbw b Zampa 2 (Oman 69-5)
Zampa picks up his second! Nadeem goes down to sweep but misses a straight one. Australia can’t believe it isn’t given out on the field so send it upstairs. They were right to do so, plumski.
9th over: Oman 62-4 (Ali 9, Nadeem 1) Just three runs off the over, Wasim Ali is nearly caught by Cameron Green in his follow through and it would have been a magnificent grab but the third umpire deems it touched the floor. Green doesn’t look too upset, I think he though he might have grazed it along the turf in catching it too, in fact it could have just bounced on the way into his hand.
8th over: Oman 59-4 (Ali 7, Nadeem 0)
WICKET! Hammad Mirza b Zampa 16 (Oman 59-4)
Zampa into the attack and he strikes in his first over. Mirza doesn’t spot the quicker ball, goes back to pull and is skittled.
7th over: Oman 57-3 (Mirza 15, Ali 6) Ten off the over, Bartlett is too full looking for the swing, Mirza clips off his pads through midwicket for four and Ali follows up with a deft glance past Inglis for four more.
6th over: Oman 47-3 (Mirza 10, Ali 1) Green blots his copybook with his final ball after going for just two runs from five deliveries. The big fella hangs it outside off stump and Hammad Mirza throws his hands at it, middling away for SIX!
5th over: Oman 39-3 (Mirza 2, Ali 0 ) Southpaw Wasim Ali is the new man. Cameron Green is called upon to send down the last over of the Powerplay.
WICKET! Jatinder Singh b Bartlett 17 (Oman 39-3)
Bowled him! Oman’s captain is beaten for pace by Bartlett and it is the third time this evening the zing bails light up and fly through the sky.
4th over: Oman 33-2 (Jatinder 12, Mirza 2) Hammad Mirza joins his captain in the middle. Ellis loses his radar and gives away five wides with a loose delivery that Inglis can do nothing about. Australia have the conditions to do some real damage if they get the ball in the right areas.
WICKET! Karan Sonavale b Ellis 12 (Oman 24-2)
Sonavale tries to force off the back foot but chops on to his stumps. Australia have their second.
Nathan Ellis summoned and his first ball is bunted over mid on for four by Sonavale…
3rd over: Oman 20-1 (Jatinder 11, Sonavale 8) Bartlett drops short, Jatinder ricks back and carves over point for a one bounce four. Bartlett get some late swing but he wastes it by firing down the leg side. It hoops on Inglis the keeper rather than the batter.
2nd over: Oman 13-1 (Jatinder 6, Sonavale 7) Marcus Stoinis bustles in from the other end. Muscles bulging, chest wider than an American fridge. Bosh! Jatinder sends a length ball over cover for four. Three singles picked off either side of the wicket. Sonavale then attempts a wild heave that goes miles up but somehow lands safe and they scamper a couple.
1st over: Oman 4-1 (Jatinder 0, Sonavale 4) There some significant swing out there, the pitch has apparently been sweating under covers for a few hours but there’s also movement through the air too. Bartlett has it on a string! He beats Karan Sonavale three times in a row. The batter decides enough is enough, trots out of his crease and spanks through the covers for four.
DROP! A huge knick the next ball, Glenn Maxwell shells it in the slips! Such an easy chance, right in the bread basket – Maxwell cannot believe what he’s just done.
Phew, eventful first over. I’m somewhat regretting wolfing a lunchtime burger that was the size of a hubcap and the ensuing snoozy state it has put me in. Quick game’s a good game lads. Don’t tell the boss will you?
WICKET! Aamir Kaleem b Bartlett 0 (Oman 0-1)
Gone first ball! Bartlett sends down a hooping in-swinger, Kaleem’s feet are rooted in wet concrete, he wafts, misses and his stumps are splattered. The perfect start for the Aussies!
Right here go, Aamir Kaleem and Jatinder Singh are opening up for Oman. Xavier Bartlett with the ball for Australia. Play!
The players emerge for the anthems, the weather is set fair in Pallekele, a couple of days too late for the Aussies.
Oman’s captain Jatinder Singh says he would have chosen to bat first anyway, I always enjoy it when an opposition captain says that as it comes across a bit primary school but to be fair it does look a belter of a wicket and it’s also an unused one.
Australia haven’t won a game chasing in this World Cup. Hey, I’m just the messenger. I stay under glass.
TEAMS:
Oman: Jatinder Singh (capt), Aamir Kaleem, Hammad Mirza, Karan Sonavale, Wasim Ali, Mohammad Nadeem, Jiten Ramanandi, Vinayak Shukla (wk), Shakeel Ahmed, Shafiq Jan, Jay Odedra
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (capt), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (wk), Tim David, Matt Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa
No Steve Smith again for Australia. At least you can use the air miles one day Smudger…
Australia win the toss and choose to bowl first
Mitch Marsh gets the rub of the coin and opts to bowl first. Australia’s captain has the air of a scorned puppy, he says he understands the frustrations and accusations spilling forth back at home and his side have reflected on how to get better. Marsh says again that the Aussies are “really disappointed” at their showing in this tournament, that today is a World Cup game and a match for Australia. I have a feeling Oman might suffer at the hands of a scorned side today…
Preamble
James Wallace
Hello and welcome to a DEAD RUBBER. Involving Australia? You better believe it.
After being dumped out of the T20 World Cup in the Group stage and facing accusations about how seriously they approached this tournament, Mitch Marsh’s side will not want to add fuel to the fire by losing to Oman in Pallekele today.
The captains are out in the middle and the coin is being tossed, play begins at 1.30pm GMT/12.30am AEDT. Let’s get into it.
