Colombo : Ireland scored an incredible 96-run win over Oman in Colombo on Friday to register their first win of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
It was an innings of two halves as Oman ruled the early exchanges while Ireland, with captain Lorcan Tucker at the wheel, went on a run rampage in the second half. Ireland recovered from 64/4 in 7.3 overs to pile on 235/5 in 20 overs, the highest score at this T20 World Cup and the second-highest overall at T20 World Cups.
After electing to field, Oman deployed its spinners straight away against the Irish. And left-arm spinner Shakeel Ahmed gave Oman the perfect start as he ripped through the Ireland top order. He began by bowling Tim Tector with a skidder, had Ross Adair miscue and then beat Harry Tector’s defences to find the top of the off stump.
Tucker and Gareth Delany joined forces with Ireland reeling at 64/4. After playing themselves into rhtythm, the Irish went on the onslaught during a 101 parternship. Delany scored 56 off 30 balls, with the help of three fours and four sixes.
The Irish captain snatched the game away from Oman, with a memorable innings of unbeaten 94 off just 51 balls, the highest individual score of this edition. George Dockrell added the final flourish, scoring 35 off just nine balls, including three sixes off the last three balls of the innings. Ireland hit a total of 13 sixes and 21 fours and notched 86 runs in the last four overs.
Faced with a tall task, Oman stuttered at the start, losing captain Jatinder Singh and Ashish Odedara in the third over.
There was a glimpse of hope for Oman when Aamir Kaleem and Hammad Mirza were at the crease. They put on a brisk 73-run stand for the third wicket. While Kaleem scored 50 off 29, Mirza controbuted with 46 off 37. But Kaleem’s wicket seemed to break the Omani resistance as they slipped from 97/3 to 139 all out in 18 overs.
The Irish bowlers were in good nick on the day. Left-arm pacer Josh Little checked the middle and lower order with 3/16, while Matthew Humphreys and Ben McCarthy claimed two wickets each.
Brief Scorecard –
1st Innings :
IRE : 235-5 (20)
2nd Innings :
OMA : 139 (18)
Result : Ireland won by 96 runs.
