CAN’T DUCK THE PRESSURE
AUSTRALIAN all-rounder Marcus Stoinis says he’ll be ready to play and bowl in Wednesday’s second T20 World Cup warm-up match against India after a host of players were rested in a thrilling opening victory against New Zealand.
Stoinis, who suffered a hamstring injury in the Indian Premier League, only batted, while Glenn Maxwell and Josh Hazlewood watched from the sidelines as uncapped wicketkeeperbatter Josh Inglis hit two boundaries from the only two balls he faced to secure victory with one delivery left in Abu Dhabi.
But the worrying form slump of opener David Warner remains a big concern ahead of the tournament after the lefthander was dismissed for a first-ball duck, his second in three innings after being dropped by his IPL team.
In three innings since April, two in the IPL and now the warm-up game, Warner has faced just seven balls and made two runs.
He was sensationally caught in the slips by a diving Martin Guptill off Tim Southee from the first ball of the run chase with the Aussies set 159 to win.
It came after Adam Zampa (2-17 from four overs) and Kane Richardson (3-24 from four) impressed with the ball.
Called in early, all-rounder Mitch Marsh (24 from 15 balls) gave Australia‘s innings some momentum before skipper Aaron Finch was bowled for 24 off 19.
Steve Smith and Stoinis then added 47 in 40 balls before they and Matthew Wade (0 off 2) were all dismissed in the space of six balls for a solitary run.
Late cameos from Ashton Agar (23 off 18 balls), Mitch Starc (13no off 9) and Inglis (8no off 2) were enough for the Aussies to secure the win.