Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell‘s struggles with the bat extended into the T20 World Cup, raising concerns after a first-ball duck in their opening match against Oman on Thursday. This dismissal follows a forgettable IPL 2024 campaign, casting a shadow over his form in crucial international matches.
A Familiar Foe: First-Ball Duck Haunts Maxwell Again
With Australia in a precarious situation at 42/2 after losing their captain Mitchell Marsh, the responsibility of rebuilding the innings fell on the experienced duo of David Warner and Maxwell. However, Maxwell’s attempt to get off the mark with a cover drive backfired spectacularly. While he struck the ball well, Oman captain Aqib Ilyas produced a breathtaking catch off the bowling of Mehran Khan, leaving Maxwell distraught and the Australian camp stunned.
This dismissal is particularly worrying for Australian fans, considering Maxwell’s struggles during IPL 2024. He endured a dreadful campaign for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), culminating in a self-imposed break from the team. This season saw his worst performance ever in the IPL, managing a paltry 52 runs in 10 matches with a meagre average of 5.73. The first-ball duck in the T20 World Cup opener is an unsettling echo of his dismissal in the final IPL match for RCB during the Eliminator against Rajasthan Royals. Maxwell’s dismissal proved to be a turning point in that match, contributing to RCB’s defeat.
A Tale of Two Halves: Stoinis and Warner Rescue Australia
Despite Maxwell’s early dismissal and the loss of skipper Marsh, Australia managed to recover thanks to stellar performances from Marcus Stoinis and David Warner. The duo consolidated the innings, providing much-needed stability. Stoinis then unleashed his power in the 15th over, launching a counter-attack against bowler Mehran Khan.
A stroke of luck on the first ball seemed to ignite Stoinis, who proceeded to smash four sixes off Khan’s final over, contributing a crucial 26 runs to Australia’s total. Warner, displaying his experience, provided valuable support, scoring a well-paced 56 runs off 51 balls. This crucial partnership between Stoinis and Warner propelled Australia to a respectable total of 164 runs in their 20 overs.
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