T20 World Cup 2026: Australia Finishes Campaign with Consolation

 T20 World Cup 2026: Australia Finishes Campaign with Consolation Win Over Oman

Australia Crush Oman in Final T20 World Cup Outing

In a match that served as a postscript to their disastrous campaign, the Australian cricket team signed off from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with a emphatic nine-wicket victory over Oman in Kandy, Sri Lanka . Despite the comprehensive win, it was little consolation for the 2021 champions, who failed to qualify for the Super 8s for the first time since 2009 .

Zampa and Bowlers Set Up the Win

Sent into bat at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Oman’s innings never really took off against a disciplined Australian bowling attack. The tone was set immediately when Xavier Bartlett bowled Aamir Kaleem with the very first ball of the match .

While Oman’s captain Jatinder Singh (17) showed some resistance, wickets fell at regular intervals. Leg-spinner Adam Zampa, who had a quiet tournament leading into this game, rediscovered his rhythm spectacularly, finishing with figures of 4/21 . He was ably supported by Glenn Maxwell (2/13) and Bartlett (2/27) .

Wasim Ali was the lone warrior for Oman, anchoring the innings with a composed 32 off 33 balls, helping his team limp to a total of 104 before being bowled out in the 16.2 overs .

Marsh and Head Finish in a Hurry

Chasing a modest 105, Australian captain Mitchell Marsh made a statement. Showing the intent that had been missing in earlier losses, he launched a brutal assault on the Omani bowling attack. Marsh brought up his fifty in just 26 balls, finishing on an unbeaten 64 off 33 deliveries, an innings that included seven fours and four sixes .

He found the perfect partner in Travis Head, who smashed a rapid 32 off 19 balls. The pair put on a 93-run opening stand, effectively ending the contest within the powerplay . Australia chased down the target in just 9.4 overs, winning by nine wickets with a staggering 62 balls to spare .

Context: A Tournament to Forget for Both Sides

This match was a dead rubber, with both teams already eliminated from the tournament. For Australia, the win lifted them to third place in Group B, but it could not mask the pain of consecutive losses to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka that ended their campaign .

For Oman, the defeat capped a winless tournament. They lost all four of their group games, finishing at the bottom of the table . Ahead of the match, Omani captain Jatinder Singh had boldly claimed it was the "best time to crush" the vulnerable Australian side . While the spirit was willing, the gulf in class on the day proved too wide, as Australia's stars delivered a clinical performance to finish their otherwise forgettable journey on a winning note .