Australia overcame an early wobble to beat Oman comfortably by 39 runs in their opening match at the T20 World Cup in Barbados.
Australia were 50-3 in the ninth over when captain Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell fell in consecutive balls.
But Marcus Stoinis capitalised on being dropped on seven, 11 and 65 to club 67 not out from 35 balls and lift his side to 164-5.
He shared a stand of 102 with David Warner, who played the anchor role for 56 to begin what is set to be his final World Cup.
After Mitchell Starc struck in the first over, Stoinis then took 3-19 in the chase as Oman, beaten in a super over by Namibia in their first game, finished on 125-9.
The night was not without worry for Australia, however, with Starc leaving the field after one ball of his final over.
“Starc was just a cramp,” said Marsh. “We don’t need to take unnecessary risks at this stage of the tournament.
“He said he’s fine. You look at the World Cup as a whole and we’ve got a few games to go. He loves bowling for Australia but I think the right decision was made.”
Australia’s next game is on Saturday against England – a crucial game for Jos Buttler’s side following their washout against Scotland on Tuesday.
In the World Cup’s other late game, Uganda achieved their first win at a World Cup by edging past Papua New Guinea by three wickets in Guyana.
Frank Nsubuga, Uganda’s 43-year-old spinner, bowled the most economical four overs in T20 World Cup history – his two wickets cost only four runs – as the tournament debutants dismissed PNG for 77 in 19.1 overs.
They fell to 6-3 and 26-5 in pursuit but Riazat Ali Shah nudged 33 from 56 balls and Uganda edged to victory with 10 balls to spare.
