Australia entered their World T20 opener as firm favorites against Oman at Bridgetown, but they were swiftly handed a reality check by some quality bowling from the Asian team.
The disciplined performance by Oman’s bowlers saw Australia reduced to 56/3 at the halfway mark after being asked to bat first, with the usually explosive David Warner having to anchor the innings at less than a run-a-ball.
Despite the slow pace, the 37-year-old Warner reached a significant milestone, becoming Australia’s highest run-scorer in T20 internationals during his knock, celebrating the achievement with a heartfelt exchange involving Aaron Finch.
The former Australian captain, now part of the commentary team, was seated in the press box when Warner cut the ball in the eighth over to reach his 3,021st T20I run, surpassing Finch’s record in his 104th match.
The cameras immediately focused on Finch, who raised his eyebrows and clapped in appreciation of his former teammate, with whom he had shared opening duties for over half a decade.
— Jackson Hernandez (@JHernandez9286) June 6, 2024
Leading run scorer for Australia in T20i #davidwarner #warner #ausvsoma pic.twitter.com/UzdUpzDeRR
— dattu warner (@warnerdattu_31) June 6, 2024
Warner noticed the gesture in real time and broke into a wide grin, waving coyly at Finch before resuming his innings. The endearing interaction between the duo quickly captivated Twitter users, who flooded social media with their reactions.