IRE vs OMN Match 22 T20 WC Highlights: Ireland Won by 96 Runs

Lorcan Tucker’s magnificent unbeaten 94 off 51 balls and George Dockrell’s explosive 35* off 9 deliveries powered Ireland to a massive 235/5 before their bowlers, led by Joshua Little (3/16) dismantled Oman for 139, securing a dominant 96-run victory at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. 

After Oman won the toss and elected to field, Ireland lost three wickets in the powerplay to Shakeel Ahmed, slumping to 47/3 before Curtis Campher’s dismissal left them reeling at 64/4. However, captain Tucker combined brilliantly with Gareth Delany (56 off 30) in a match-turning 103-run partnership for the fifth wicket. 

The pair attacked relentlessly, hitting boundaries at will before Dockrell provided a stunning finish with three consecutive sixes in the final over. Ireland plundered 93 runs in the death overs to post their highest-ever T20 World Cup total. Chasing 236, Oman began positively with Aamir Kaleem’s scintillating fifty, reaching 102/3 by the 11th over. 

But once Kaleem and Hammad Mirza departed, the innings collapsed spectacularly as Ireland’s bowlers triggered a stunning collapse of seven wickets for just 37 runs to seal a comprehensive victory.

Match Details

First Innings Highlights

Ireland’s innings began disastrously as Shakeel Ahmed wreaked havoc in the powerplay, dismissing all three of Ireland’s top-order batters. Tim Tector (5 off 4) was bowled making room to cut, Ross Adair (14 off 7 with 3 fours) skied one to mid-on after successfully reviewing an LBW decision, and Harry Tector (14 off 13 with 2 fours) was cleaned up by a slower delivery that turned away. 

Curtis Campher briefly counter-attacked with 12 off 7 balls (2 fours) before being trapped lbw by Aamir Kaleem’s arm ball, leaving Ireland in deep trouble at 64/4. From this precarious position, captain Lorcan Tucker and Gareth Delany launched a spectacular recovery. 

Tucker survived a contentious stumping appeal on 18 when the third umpire ruled in his favor despite the keeper breaking the stumps. The pair unleashed a barrage of boundaries, with Delany reaching his fifty off 30 balls with a massive six over long-on. Their 103-run partnership completely transformed the innings. 

After Delany fell for 56 (30 balls, 3 fours, 4 sixes), George Dockrell produced an astonishing cameo, smashing three consecutive sixes in the final over off Sufyan Mehmood to finish with 35* off just 9 balls. Tucker remained unbeaten on 94 off 51 balls, falling just short of what would have been a maiden T20 World Cup century. Ireland’s total of 235/5 was their highest in T20 World Cup history.

Second Innings Highlights

Oman started their chase brightly, racing to 63/2 in the powerplay – their highest powerplay score in T20 World Cup history against a Full Member nation. Aamir Kaleem set the tone with aggressive batting, greeting Mark Adair with a six and finding boundaries regularly. Jatinder Singh (7 off 5 with 1 four) fell lbw to Matthew Humphreys attempting a switch-hit, while Ashish Odedara (1 off 2) was run out by a sharp direct hit from Harry Tector. 

The 44-year-old Kaleem, who became the oldest player to score a fifty in T20 World Cup history, combined with Hammad Mirza in a threatening 73-run partnership for the third wicket. Kaleem struck 5 fours and 2 sixes in his 29-ball knock, reaching his milestone before being caught at fine leg off Barry McCarthy. 

Mirza contributed a steady 46 off 37 balls (6 fours, 1 six) as Oman reached 102/3, keeping hopes alive. However, once both set batters departed, the innings completely disintegrated. Joshua Little triggered the collapse with two wickets in the 15th over, while Matthew Humphreys, George Dockrell, and Barry McCarthy picked up the remaining wickets. 

Oman lost their last seven wickets for a mere 37 runs, eventually being bowled out for 139 in 18 overs. Little’s clinical spell of 3/16 and excellent support from Humphreys (2/27) ensured Ireland registered their third-biggest T20I victory by runs.