Australia signed off from the tournament with a convincing win, but there was little celebration inside the dressing room. Leg-spinner Adam Zampa admitted the mood remained sombre after the team’s early exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Zampa shines, but disappointment lingers
Zampa produced one of his best spells of the campaign, returning 4/27 and earning the Player of the Match award as Australia thrashed Oman by nine wickets. Still, he acknowledged the victory did not make up for missing out on the knockout stage.
He described the past few days as difficult, saying the dressing room had been unusually quiet with players struggling to process their premature departure from the competition.
Australia opted to bowl first and quickly took control. Oman were bowled out for 104 in 16.2 overs, with Zampa dismantling the middle order. Support came from Glenn Maxwell, Xavier Bartlett, Marcus Stoinis and Nathan Ellis, who ensured Oman never built momentum.
Despite his match-winning figures, Zampa was self-critical. He pointed to Australia’s earlier defeat to Sri Lanka as a turning point and felt he could have delivered more in that game, particularly in the middle overs where he is expected to take wickets.
Marsh leads dominant chase
Chasing 105, Australia made light work of the target. Captain Mitchell Marsh blasted 64 from 33 balls, while Travis Head added a quick 32. The pair put on a 93-run opening stand and wrapped up the chase in just 9.4 overs.
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Yet the comprehensive win did little to lift spirits. Zampa stressed that personal milestones and awards offered limited comfort when the larger objective had slipped away. He admitted the squad, built carefully over the past few years, had not delivered when it mattered most.
Australia’s campaign ended with a dominant performance on the field, but the overriding emotion was regret over missed opportunities earlier in the tournament.
