Ireland smashed Oman by 96 runs in Colombo on Saturday to register their first win of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, posting 235/5, the second-highest T20 World Cup total ever.
Oman started strong with left-arm spinner Shakeel Ahmed ripping through the Irish top order, but captain Lorcan Tucker and Gareth Delaney turned the game on its head with a 101-run partnership. Ireland then unleashed a brutal onslaught, hitting 13 sixes and 21 fours, leaving Oman chasing an impossible target.
Tucker’s unbeaten 94 off 51 balls led the charge. Tucker’s aggressive innings proved decisive. Delaney contributed 56 off 30 balls, blending patience with power, while George Dockrell added the final flourish with 35 off nine balls, smashing three consecutive sixes to finish the innings in style.
Oman struggled under the weight of Ireland’s total. Losing captain Singh and Ashish Odedara early set the tone, and though Aamir Kaleem and Hammad Mirza steadied the ship with a 73-run stand, Kaleem’s wicket triggered a collapse from 97/3 to 139 all out.
Ireland’s bowlers maintained pressure throughout. Josh Little’s left-arm pace claimed 3/16, while Matthew Humphreys and Ben McCarthy picked up two wickets each, ensuring Oman never recovered.
