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Tuesday brings back a full slate of Major League Baseball action, and there are hundreds of player props to choose from. 

Every day here at SI Betting, we’re going to break down some of our favorite prop bets, and today is a major focus on some starting pitchers that have been terrific so far in 2024. 

New York Yankees youngster Luis Gil may be the biggest surprise in the American League this season, posting an MLB-best .188 batting average on balls in play this season. Can he hold the Minnesota Twins in check tonight? 

I have a prop play for him, as well as another rookie in Chicago Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga. While he’s coming off a rough outing in his last game, Imanaga has been lights out for most of the 2024 campaign, and he’s in a prime spot to bounce back in the crosstown rivalry against the Chicago White Sox. 

Three pitchers, three props for the 15-game slate on June 4. Let’s ride!

Best MLB Prop Bets for Tuesday, June 4Luis Gil UNDER 3.5 Hits Allowed (+125)Tyler Glasnow OVER 7.5 Strikeouts (-120)Shota Imanaga UNDER 2.5 Earned Runs Allowed (-135)

Luis Gil UNDER 3.5 Hits Allowed (+125)

I mentioned Gil’s insane BABIP so far in the 2024 season, and it’s backed up by his 0.95 WHIP and the fact that he’s allowed just 29 hits in 63.1 innings of work. 

It’s truly remarkable how dominant the Yankees righty has been, and he’s allowed three or fewer hits in nine of his 11 starts so far this season. Even with Gil working deeper into games – he pitched eight innings in his last outing – his hits numbers have remained down. 

He pitched at least six innings in every start he made in May, allowing over 3.5 hits just one time. Now, he gets a look at a Minnesota team that is in the bottom-10 in Major League Baseball in hits this season. 

Until the youngster has a blow up outing, we might as well ride the hot hand when it comes to this prop. 

Tyler Glasnow OVER 7.5 Strikeouts (-120)

The Los Angeles Dodgers and starter Tyler Glasnow kick off the MLB action on Tuesday with a matchup against Jared Jones and the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

Glasnow has been dominant as of late, striking out a ton of hitters to give him 95 on the season in just 74.0 innings of work. 

So, why not go back to the well when it comes to his strikeout prop tonight?

Glasnow has eight or more punchouts in six of his last seven starts, ranking in the 94th percentile this season in strikeout percentage (33.2 percent of the time). 

Pittsburgh – a younger team – has struggled to avoid punchouts all season long, racking up the fourth most in Major League Baseball entering this matchup. 

That puts Glasnow in a prime spot to go OVER 7.5 K’s again, especially if he can work deep into the game. Glasnow is 6-for-6 on this prop in his last six starts where he’s pitched more than five innings. 

Trust the Dodgers star to get the job done against Pittsburgh tonight. 

Shota Imanaga UNDER 2.5 Earned Runs Allowed (-135)

Imanaga got off to an insane start to begin his MLB career, but he came back to earth in his last outing, giving up seven earned runs in a loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Luckily, he has a cupcake matchup with the White Sox on Tuesday that should serve as a perfect bounce-back spot. 

Chicago ranks dead last in OPS, hits and runs scored this season, yet oddsmakers have Imanaga’s earned runs prop at 2.5. In 10 starts in 2024, he’s allowed more than 2.5 earned runs just once – his last outing against the Brewers. 

I believe in the lefty to bounce back here against one of the league’s worst teams, especially since he had allowed just two total earned runs in his first four starts in May. Imanaga still has a 1.86 ERA on the season supported by a 1.00 WHIP. 

He’s a prime candidate to buy low on for Tuesday’s slate.

Manchester City have been advised to prepare for a decision to finally be made on their 115 charges of alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules imminently. The Cityzens were first hit with the charges back in February 2023 and a legal expert has now spoken about the eagerly-anticipated verdict and claimed there is "no real excuse for a further delay."

Verdict on Man City case overdue

A verdict on Manchester City's 115 charges was initially expected earlier this year but is now expected shortly. There has been frustration at the length of time the whole process has taken but the club may not have too much longer to wait to discover their fate. Speculation has raged over possible punishments if City are found guilty, ranging from points deductions to titles being stripped, but the club are thought to be confident they will avoid the harshest sanctions and have maintained their innocence throughout the process.

AdvertisementAFPMan City told decision is imminent

Manchester City have been told to expect a decision soon. Legal expert Stefan Borson told talkSPORT: "It's very very simple. They have not had the decision of the panel as of yet. I do think now there's no real excuse for a further delay. Even if they were busy on other matters, and they would have been, then I think it would be really quite extraordinary that there's been no timetable set with them and no arrangement set with them in terms of the payment of their time over these last ten months to produce the decision.

"I think on any basis ten months is enough to produce even a very very detailed 400 or 500 page decision on this case, and I think it is imminent. I know I have said that before multiple times in this room but I did think that there was a very good chance that it would have come out for this international window. I think there's a very good chance it will come out in the next international window and I really can't see it going into 2026. I just cannot see it extending beyond the year. I think it is almost out."

Guardiola will accept decision

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has vowed to accept any decision that is handed down to his club when the verdict finally arrives. He told reporters last summer: "I am happy that it starts soon and hopefully it will finish soon, for the benefit of all of us, especially the club but also other Premier League clubs and all the people who don’t wait for the sentence. I wish, from the deep in my heart, go to the trial, the independent panel – and I say again, independent panel – and as soon as possible, release what happened and we will accept like always we have done."

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Man City & Haaland enjoying bright start

Manchester City are currently in the midst of a strong start to the season after a disappointing campaign last year. Guardiola's side sit just three points off top spot and have four points from their opening two Champions League matches. Star striker Erling Haaland has started the season in fine form, banging in 12 goals in nine Premier League and Champions League matches, and has been hailed as the top flight's greatest striker by Jamie Carragher.

He said: "I think we're watching the greatest goal-scorer to ever play in English football. I honestly can't remember Jimmy Greaves, Dixie Dean and all those players from years ago. But I think of Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, Harry Kane and Ian Rush for my club Liverpool. There's a difference for me between a great centre-forward or striker and a goal-scorer. I think what we're witnessing now is something we've never seen before in our game and don't forget, this is a club where the goal-scorer beforehand was Sergio Aguero, one of the greatest we'll ever see. This is on a completely different level to Aguero. He's the best.”

Scott Munn, who left Tottenham in the summer after less than two years as the club's chief football officer, is reportedly finalising a deal to join Serie A side Parma. His departure from north London came amid a major boardroom overhaul that saw even the chairman Daniel Levy and star manager Ange Postecoglou also exit the club.

• Munn finalising Parma executive role

  Munn is closing in on a new senior role with Serie A side Parma, according to reports in Italy. and state that the Australian is finalising a deal to become the new head of the Krause Group's football division, the American consortium that owns the Italian club.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Departure followed major Spurs overhaul

  Munn was placed on gardening leave by Spurs in June, bringing an end to a tenure of less than two years in north London. His departure came as part of a summer of significant change at Tottenham, which saw the sacking of his key ally, manager Postecoglou. Munn's exit also coincided with a major boardroom shake-up that included the departures of long-serving chairman Levy and executive director Donna-Maria Cullen, as a new chief executive officer, Vinai Venkatesham, arrived.

  Spurs endured a dismal domestic 2024-25 campaign despite their Europa League success. Injury issues were a constant source of frustration for then-coach Postecoglou. It was claimed that the fitness issues flared up after long-serving head of medicine Geoff Scott was forced out, a decision that followed a review that Munn had been at the head of. In April, it was reported that he would be leaving the club, even before Postecoglou's sacking.

• The original vision for Munn at Tottenham

  Munn joined Tottenham from the City Football Group in 2023 to fill the newly-created role of chief football officer, designed to oversee all of the club's footballing activities. Upon his appointment, then-chairman Levy said: "Scott has a unique and broad experience of running sporting organisations at the highest level and will take responsibility for the leadership and management of our football activities to instil best practice both on and off the pitch."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  What next for Munn and Parma?

  An official announcement from Parma is expected in the coming weeks. Munn will be tasked by president Kyle Krause with strengthening the club's organisational structure as they look to consolidate their position back in Italy's top flight. After a brief and turbulent spell at Spurs came to an abrupt end, the 51-year-old will be aiming to implement his long-term vision in Serie A.

Gujarat Titans (GT) bowler Ishant Sharma has been fined 25% of his match fees and handed one demerit point for breaching the IPL’s code of conduct during the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Sunday.A statement from the IPL said that Ishant breached Article 2.2, which relates to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during a match”. It was a Level 1 offence, for which Ishant admitted to and accepted match referee Javagal Srinath’s sanction.Ishant was taken for 53 runs in four wicketless overs against SRH in Hyderabad. He was subbed out 13 overs into GT’s innings and was replaced by Sherfane Rutherford.Ishant has had an expensive IPL so far. He has conceded 107 runs across eight overs in three games, and has taken just one wicket.GT’s win against SRH was their third in four games, taking them to No. 2 on the points table. It was their third victory in a row after they started the season with a defeat against Punjab Kings.

Liverpool have done it. When all is said and done at the end of the transfer window, which closes at 7pm this evening, Arne Slot’s side will have welcomed Alexander Isak to their ranks.

Isak, 25, has fought to leave Newcastle United and sign for the Premier League champions for many weeks, and after weeks of interminable waiting, now has his wish. Isak will sign for Liverpool.

27 goals for Eddie Howe’s Magpies last season, the Sweden striker is an unstoppable force, so many ways to hurt his opponents. However, FSG don’t seem content with merely the record-breaking man, and plan for more before the window slams shut.

Liverpool planning D-day business

When Marc Guehi scored a looping strike at Villa Park on Sunday evening, he celebrated with the passion and weight of a player set to jump ship.

Liverpool want the centre-back, but they are also ready to move for a new winger to complement Isak, with transfer insider Matt Thielen revealing Richard Hughes has received an offer from AC Milan for Liverpool to sign Rafael Leao as a part of the deal that could see Joe Gomez sign for the Italians.

Valued at £86m and also targeted by Arsenal this summer, the Portuguese winger, 26, would truly be the icing on the cake for the Redmen, adding with Isak quality of the highest class to Slot’s frontline.

What Rafael Leao would bring to Liverpool

Leao has been remarked to be “one of the best left wingers in the world” by analyst Ben Mattinson, and while Milan struggled throughout the 2024/25 campaign, he stood proud as a shining light, scoring 12 goals and supplying 13 assists across the campaign, 50 matches all told.

A consistently menacing forward season upon season, Leao is electric-paced and utterly terrifying when on the ball and hurtling down the flank. FBref data records that he ranks among the top 4% of wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons per 90.

His world-class credentials and staggering price tag suggest that Liverpool could make an instant repeat of the deal that saw them land Isak by getting it done on D-day.

Leao – AC Milan Career

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

25/26

1

1

0

24/25

50

12

13

23/24

47

15

14

22/23

48

16

15

21/22

42

14

12

20/21

40

7

6

19/20

33

6

2

Data via Transfermarkt

In fact, Leao has actually been described by Milan coach Stefano Pioli as looking like “the early Thierry Henry”, and that’s something that has been attributed to Isak over the past several years too, having been likened to the Arsenal and Les Bleus legend last season, bringing such flair and destructive quality to the final third.

While Leao has yet to unearth and maintain truly jaw-dropping levels in front of goal, he has the talent, all right, and might just reach that giddy level of his game with a move to Merseyside.

Rangy and robust, he’s the real deal and would provide Liverpool with the perfect contrasting skill set to Cody Gakpo on the left flank.

Similar to Isak in some ways, he would work wonders alongside the Scandinavian star, supplying and interchanging in seamless synergy.

In Isak, Liverpool have signed one of the finest centre-forwards in the business, but if they manage to wrap up a move for Leao too, there’s surely going to be no stopping the Anfield side, chock-full with world-class quality.

Related As good as Szoboszlai: £40m star dropped his best game in a Liverpool shirt

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Aug 31, 2025

Former Worcestershire opener takes charge amid strained relations between ECB and players’ union

Matt Roller16-Jan-2025

Daryl Mitchell has been promoted to become chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) after filling the role on an interim basis for the last six months.Mitchell, who scored 39 first-class hundreds and captained Worcestershire, spent four years as PCA chair from 2017-21 before becoming director of cricket operations and then chief operating officer. He has served as interim chief executive since Rob Lynch stepped down to join MCC as director of cricket and operations, and has now been appointed on a permanent basis after the role was advertised publicly before Christmas.The appointment comes at a time when the PCA is looking to mend its relationship with the ECB after a testing period, which prompted the players’ union to suggest the sense of “genuine collaboration” between the two parties had evaporated late last year. Mitchell said in a statement he will try to build “closer working relationships” with the ECB and counties in his new role.Related

Rob Lynch stepping down as PCA chief to join MCC

PCA chief: Counties will be 'discerning' about players' franchise availability

The PCA were particularly frustrated at what they described as “a severe lack of communication and consultation” in two policy areas late last year: the new stance on No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) and the split of extra money in the Hundred’s salary pot. The men’s county schedule has been another long-standing pressure point between the two parties.”I am delighted to have been entrusted by the PCA players’ committee and the board to lead the association as the chief executive,” Mitchell said. “Representing players has been a key part of my life since I became a PCA rep in 2009.”Evolution is the key to the future of our members and the PCA and forging even stronger relations with players is crucial to the future of our game. Being a cricketer in today’s world provides a wealth of opportunity, albeit with challenges and greater complexities than ever before for our members to navigate, both collectively and as individuals.”Mitchell will be working with a new chair, with James Harris’ second term set to run out in February, while his previous role is now vacant. Harris was part of the interview panel for the chief executive hiring process, along with PCA president Eoin Morgan, and said Mitchell was “the standout candidate from a very strong field”.

Arsenal are a club that have been blessed with an abundance of genuinely world-class players over the years.

In the current side, you have the likes of Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, and then go back to the last Premier League-winning side, and it’s impossible to look past the likes of Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Robert Pirès.

However, there is another superstar from the club’s past that many view as the most technically gifted player to wear the red and white: Dennis Bergkamp.

So, fans should be excited about reports linking the club with a player who could become Mikel Arteta’s own version of the Non-Flying Dutchman.

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It’s been a good summer for Arsenal so far this year, as while they suffered two defeats in pre-season, they won their other three games and have been unusually busy in the market.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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New Sporting Director Andrea Berta has made six additions to the first team, with goalscoring phenomenon Viktor Gyokeres and midfield maestro Martin Zubimendi the marquee signings.

However, while that would have been more than enough business for the Gunners in summers past, it now looks like they’re trying to make at least one more addition to the team, someone who could be the new Bergkamp.

At least that’s according to a recent report from Ben Jacobs, who has claimed that Arsenal are still very much interested in Eberechi Eze.

Moreover, Jacobs has revealed that while the Crystal Palace ace is open to a move to Tottenham Hotspur, he’s been in talks with Arteta and would “welcome an Arsenal bid.”

It’s not entirely clear how much the £100k-per-week star would cost, as reports from earlier this month claimed that his £68m release clause is set to expire on Friday.

It could therefore be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Eze’s incredible ability, he’d be more than worth it, especially as he could be the club’s new Bergkamp.

Why Eze could be Arsenal's new Bergkamp

So it’s worth pointing out that we aren’t necessarily saying Eze is as good a player as Bergkamp was during his pomp, but he could be, and on top of that, there are some similarities between their transfers, or potential in the Palace ace’s case.

The first point is that, should this move happen, the 27-year-old Englishman would be joining the Gunners at a similar stage in his career to the Dutchman, who was 26 when he moved to Highbury from Inter Milan in 1995.

Moreover, as his move helped to usher in a period of incredible success for the North Londoners, it also feels like the Eagles star has the ability and could be that missing piece that finally brings success to Arteta’s project.

However, away from the similar circumstances around the moves, the other key similarity between the two players is their immense technical abilities.

For example, when he was at his best, the Amsterdam-born maestro was a joy to watch, someone who wouldn’t just score a goal or provide an assist, but do something so utterly brilliant with the ball at his feet that would often leave fans speechless.

The most famous example of this would undoubtedly be his goal against Newcastle United, but there are so many other instances during his time in England when he’d make the improbable seem blasé.

Now, while we are yet to see the former QPR gem score a goal quite as spectacular as that one at St James’ Park, he remains one of the most entertaining players to watch in England today and has a catalogue of strikes most could only dream of.

Eze’s recent form

Season

23/24

24/25

Appearances

36

43

Minutes

2285′

3303′

Goals

11

14

Assists

6

11

Goal Involvements per Match

0.47

0.58

Minutes per Goal Involvement

134.41′

132.12′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Moreover, on top of scoring wonder goals, the “superstar” attacker, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, is just as proficient at setting them up or completing the crucial action that leads to one of his teammates setting up a goal.

Finally, after goals and assists, the most exciting thing a player can do is beat an opposition defender with the ball at their feet, and that’s something the Greenwich-born “magician,” as dubbed by Micah Richards, can do with ease.

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers for successful take-ons in the Premier League last season.

Ultimately, even if it’s a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign Eze this month, as he could turn into Arteta’s Bergkamp.

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Nottingham Forest are now on the verge of signing a £10m defender, having submitted an offer for his services, a report has revealed.

Forest's busy summer transfer window continues

With Forest preparing for a Europa League campaign next season, they have set out to deepen their squad, while Nuno Espirito Santo was also tasked with bringing in a replacement for Anthony Elanga, following the Sweden international’s departure to Newcastle United.

Dan Ndoye has since arrived at the City Ground, joining alongside Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha, and there should be plenty of space for even more arrivals, given that the Tricky Trees have generated considerable funds from sales this summer.

Player

New club

Transfer fee

Anthony Elanga

Newcastle United

£53m

Danilo

Botafogo

£20m

Ramon Sosa

Palmeiras

£11m

Andrew Omobamidele

Strasbourg

£9m

Matt Turner

Lyon

£7m

Lewis O’Brien

Wrexham

£3m

Following Turner’s departure, there is a real need to get a new goalkeeper through the door, and Fabrizio Romano has recently revealed that Angus Gunn is set to make a move to the City Ground.

However, Gunn is not the only player who could be linking up with Nuno’s side in the very near future, with a report from Italy (via Sport Witness) revealing Nottingham Forest are now very close to sealing a deal for Hellas Verona’s Jackson Tchatchoua.

Forest have made an offer of €12m (£10m) plus bonuses, which appears to be acceptable for the Italian club, with the transfer now edging closer to completion, and Tchatchoua is set to receive a four-year contract.

The full-back would be a versatile option for Nuno, given that he is able to play on both sides of the defence, and right-wing back.

Related Nottingham Forest negotiating fee for £139k-a-week star with personal terms agreed

The Tricky Trees could beat competition from elsewhere.

Posts BySean Markus Clifford Aug 4, 2025 Tchatchoua could be solid addition to Nuno's squad

Nuno already has a dependable option at right-back in the form of Ola Aina, with the London-born defender making 35 Premier League appearances in the 2024-25 campaign, however, the Verona defender may be a necessary addition.

With the Tricky Trees set to embark on a European campaign, Nuno needs to improve his squad depth, and the 23-year-old’s versatility could make him a solid option, while he is also a threat on the front foot.

The Cameroon international picked up two goals and three assists in the Serie A last season, scoring the opening goal in his side’s 2-0 victory against Genoa last September.

That said, it will be difficult for Tchatchoua to displace Aina in the starting XI, given that the 28-year-old received very high praise for his performances last season, with journalist Zach Lowy describing him as “one of the best” full-backs in Europe.

Derbyshire are on the brink of ending a five year red ball drought after Jack Morley put Glamorgan in a spin on the third day of the Vitality County Championship match at Derby. The on-loan left arm spinner from Lancashire took 3 for 35 from 20 overs to put Derbyshire on course for a first Championship victory at the County Ground since August 2019.Glamorgan were fighting back at 226 for 4 but they lost three wickets in the space of six balls and closed on 236 for 7, still 25 behind. Colin Ingram and Kiran Carlson scored fifties but Morley and Pat Brown (2 for 50) bowled Derbyshire to the verge of a first Championship win anywhere for 25 months.After rain washed out the morning session, Brown and Zak Chappell started Glamorgan’s decline with three wickets in six overs. Billy Root did not profit from his escape the previous evening, scoring only 13 before he pushed at a ball from Brown he could have left and was caught behind.Brown tempted Ben Kellaway into a loose waft that gave Brooke Guest another victim before Chappell bagged the big wicket of Sam Northeast. The Glamorgan skipper had started purposefully but there was little he could do with a ball that was angled in and straightened enough to get through his defence and pluck out middle stump.A shower held up play for 20 minutes which would have helped keep the bowlers fresh and disrupt the batters concentration but both Carlson and Ingram settled in well after the restart. Carlson was more circumspect after he got away with a big drive early in his innings and Ingram, who scored a century on this ground last season, was quick to pounce on anything short or overpitched.With Anuj Dal off the field, Derbyshire were a bowler down and there was frustration for Brown when Carlson saw an edge loop just over third slip before Ingram was given a life on 25. Brown tempted him into a drive and the edge went low to Guest who could not hang on diving to his left.Ingram reached his 50 off 93 balls the over before tea which arrived with Glamorgan recovering well to get the deficit below three figures. But all the hard work was undone three overs into the final session when Ingram attempted a big slog-sweep at Morley and was bowled to end a stand of 110 from 179 balls.Colin Ingram made a fighting fifty for Glamorgan•Getty Images

Derbyshire thought they had Carlson in the next over, caught behind off David Lloyd, but the umpires ruled correctly that the ball had been played into the ground.Carlson completed his 50 off 125 balls before Derbyshire lost Brown who limped off with what appeared to be an ankle injury four overs into his second spell.Lloyd took over and struck when Chris Cooke tried to drive and was bowled, breaking a stand of 50 from 122 balls. Derbyshire moved a step closer to victory in the next over when Carlson inexplicably gave Morley the charge and was stumped.Timm van der Gugten was lbw first ball and although Mason Crane averted the hat-trick, Glamorgan will need something remarkable on the last day to deny Derbyshire that long-awaited home win.

David Warner also helped revive the innings after a slugglish start against a spirited Oman side

Andrew McGlashan06-Jun-20241:24

How Australia’s history helps them in World Cups

Marcus Stoinis and David Warner extricated Australia from an uncertain position in their T20 World Cup 2024 opener against Oman with the result ultimately a comfortable 39-run win on a tricky Barbados pitch.When Glenn Maxwell fell for a golden duck, continuing his horror run with the bat, they were 50 for 3 and thoughts briefly turned to what could unfold but Stoinis and Warner added 102 off 64 balls to ensure Australia did not stumble early in their bid for ICC trophies across all three formats.Stoinis was dropped on 9 and then bludgeoned six sixes as he turned around a sluggish start with Oman’s bowlers keeping pressure on their big-name opponents for 14 overs. It was hard work for Warner, who became Australia’s leading run-scorer in men’s T20Is, but he used his experience to not throw the innings away.Australia were then largely efficient with the ball as Mitchell Starc struck in the opening over with an inswinging low full toss – although he was later unable to complete his spell as he left the field but it was confirmed as cramp – and Stoinis’ fine day continued as he added three wickets. Nathan Ellis, who had been selected ahead of the rested Pat Cummins, struck in his first over to claim a maiden World Cup wicket.Marcus Stoinis was in the thick of the action – both with ball and bat•ICC via Getty Images

Oman’s moment(s) to rememberFor well over half of Australia’s innings, this game was far from one-way traffic. Scoring was tough on a niggly surface and after the powerplay the total was 37 for 1 – Australia’s lowest in their last 15 T20Is dating back to the previous T20 World Cup. Head put away one well-timed cover drive early on but timing was hard work for him and Warner with Head picking out mid-off with a drive to lift Bilal Khan’s spirits after his Super Over disappointment against Namibia.Mitchell Marsh couldn’t get going before picking out long-on, then came Oman’s big moment. Maxwell, coming off an IPL where he averaged 5.77, drove at his first ball from Mehran Khan and Oman captain Aqib Ilyas dived full length to his left at cover to hold a spectacular catch. It was Maxwell’s fifth duck in 10 T20 innings.Stoinis takes his chanceStoinis survived the hat-trick ball but there was no immediate release of pressure for Australia. After ten overs they had crept to 56 for 3 with the next two overs only bringing seven runs. Warner began to break the shackles with consecutive boundaries off Zeeshan Maqsood, but then it was a case of what might have been for Oman.On 9, Stoinis edged a turning delivery from Ilyas which wicketkeeper Pratik Athavale could not gather – it was tough but not impossible. Two balls into the next over from Mehran, Ayaan Khan arguably paid the price for not being right on the rope at long-off when he held a good catch, but was unable to stop his backwards momentum taking him into the boundary.That was the first of four sixes Stoinis struck in the over and from there he was away, bringing up a half-century from 27 balls. Australia’s first 14 overs had brought 80 runs; the last six brought 84.Marcus Stoinis and David Warner scored fifties to boost Australia•Associated Press

Warner’s recordBefore this match, Ricky Ponting lauded the winning mentality of Warner as he closes out his international career and said he was the type of player needed at World Cups. He couldn’t quite move through the gears in the same manner as Stoinis but reached a 46-ball fifty having earlier gone past former captain Aaron Finch to top Australia’s run-scoring charts in the format. Finch, at the ground as a broadcaster, appreciated the moment. There was one unfortunate moment for him after being dismissed when he started to accidently walk into the Oman dressing room before being redirected.Professional Australia close it outA target of 165 was always likely to be beyond Oman. Starc’s opening over was a bit of a mixed bag but he pinned Athavale lbw when a low full toss hammered into the toe, although Australia needed the DRS to get the lbw decision. Oman were then grateful for the review system when Ilyas was given lbw to Starc but even live the on-field call from Joel Wilson looked a poor one.Ilyas deposited Stoinis for a six over deep square leg but two balls later edged a lifting delivery to Matthew Wade. Stoinis became only the third player, after Shane Watson and Dwayne Bravo, to score a fifty and take three wickets in a men’s T20 World Cup match. However, Oman did not completely fade away as Ayaan provided a couple of moments of late defiance with two sixes off Adam Zampa while Mehran ensured they could cross 100 and bat out the innings.