AUS vs OMA | Twitter in disbelief as Ilyas blinder resigns extends stunned Maxwell's shocking golden run

06/06/2024

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Pursuit of the improbable requires moments straight out of a fairytale and Oman produced just the same in their attempt to upset perpetual winners Australia. Their skipper Aqib Ilyas took a diving catch for the ages in Bridgetown to resign Glenn Maxwell to a second golden duck on the trot.

‌Australia were out under the pump early on in their T20 World Cup opener against Oman in Barbados and were down to 50/2 by the ninth over after losing their captain Mitchell Marsh. With an impetus to the scoring rate the need of the hour, Glenn Maxwell walked in to bat and had the wily medium pace of Mehran Khan to contend with first up. What followed was a moment that would go down in the annals of Oman cricket history and be recounted as World Cup folklore in the years to come.

Maxwell stretched forward to push the good length delivery between cover and extra cover but the ball stuck in the surface slightly longer than the veteran had anticipated and threw him off his timing. As a result, the Kookaburra hit the willow higher than anticipated and popped off in the air albeit seemingly towards a gap in the inner ring. However, Oman skipper Aqib Ilyas, stationed at catching cover, leapt towards his left and extended both his hands at full-stretch in a freakish exhibition of athleticism. If the sheer agility on display was not impressive enough, the timing of the jump was such that the ball perfectly nestled in between the fielder's palm and stayed there even as Ilyas made impact with the ground.

The Omani contingent immediately wheeled away in celebration while a collective gasp emanated from the crowd. Maxwell, who had registered three ducks in six outings for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League, was left ruminating at his fate for a few moments before he reluctantly walked off in despair. Twitterati certainly had a lot to say about the chaotic incident.

What a catch

pic.twitter.com/UWbzXTwfr1
— Jackson Hernandez (@JHernandez9286) June 6, 2024

Good form

Glenn Maxwell continued his good form from IPL to here also ...#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/6nNL4OwHTo
— Ritesh Sharma (@Ritesh_Sharma11) June 6, 2024

B2B

Omgggggggg #OneindiaBengali

What a bowling by Mehran

Last two balls two wickets

Glenn Maxwell ❌

Mitchell Marsh ❌#AUSvsOMAN #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/ToGnzfwCoC
— Kailash khichar Bishnoi (@Kailash24732143) June 6, 2024

Superb

The Glenn Maxwell dismissal, what a catch. pic.twitter.com/RLyNKwYUGc
— Tony 444 (@Bunkers444) June 6, 2024

Lord Maxi

Glenn maxwell 🫡
— shurli (@shurlistan) June 6, 2024

Where?

Where have you lost, Glenn Maxwell!#AusvsOman
— A (@AnkitShah09) June 6, 2024

Duck king

Glenn Maxwell Since March 2024 :-

0 (1) 🦆

3 (5)

28 (19)

0 (2) 🦆

1 (3)

0 (4) 🦆

4 (3)

16 (5)

0 (1) 🦆

0 (1) 🦆 v 🇴🇲 Oman

THE BIG SHOW GOING THROUGH DUCK 🦆 PHASE#AUSvsOMA #T20WorldCup2024 pic.twitter.com/30Pusi7j4G
— Tejpal Singh (@TezzzCric) June 6, 2024

Back in the game

Skipper Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell departs on consecutive balls 💥

Mehran Khan once again shows his class bowling 👌

🇦🇺: 52/3 (9)

📸: Hotstar#AUSvOMA #T20IWorldCup #CricketTwitter   #PAKvUSA #INDvIRE #wewillwehave pic.twitter.com/097tfUTeGX
— imtiaz zulfiqar (@imtiaz_47) June 6, 2024

Brilliant

Aqib Ilyas had said by the end of the night, it’ll be the Australians who’ll be talking about his players. Well, we’ll all be certainly talking about his catch off Glenn Maxwell for a long time to come. Slow pitch or not, this has been brilliant from Oman #T20WorldCup
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) June 6, 2024

Duck