Tucker, Little Shine as Ireland Crush Oman by 96 Runs in T20 World Cup Clash

Colombo, Feb 2026 : A commanding batting display led by skipper Lorcan Tucker, followed by a ruthless bowling effort spearheaded by Joshua Little, powered Ireland to an emphatic 96-run victory over Oman in a do-or-die Group B encounter of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Sinhalese Sports Club here on Saturday.

Batting first in this high-stakes contest, Ireland produced a sensational performance to pile up a mammoth 235 for 5 in 20 overs — the highest total of the ongoing tournament and the second-highest score in the history of the T20 World Cup. Captain Tucker led from the front with a sublime unbeaten 94, while Gareth Delany smashed a rapid 56 and George Dockrell played a breathtaking cameo of 35 not out from just nine deliveries.

Ireland’s innings did not begin on a positive note. Oman’s pace spearhead Shakeel Ahmed made early inroads, claiming three wickets inside the powerplay to reduce Ireland to 47 for 3 at the end of six overs. The pressure intensified when veteran all-rounder Aamir Kaleem dismissed Curtis Campher in the eighth over, leaving Ireland struggling at 67 for 4.

At that critical juncture, Tucker anchored the innings with remarkable composure. He found an ideal partner in Delany, and together they stitched a record-breaking 165-run partnership that completely changed the complexion of the match. The duo counter-attacked with authority, punishing anything loose and rotating the strike smartly to regain momentum.

Delany reached his maiden half-century of the tournament off just 30 balls, peppering the boundary with three fours and four towering sixes. His innings came to an end in the 17th over while attempting another big hit, but by then the damage had been done. Tucker, meanwhile, brought up his fifty in 35 balls and shifted gears dramatically thereafter, scoring 44 runs off the next 16 deliveries. He narrowly missed a century, remaining unbeaten on 94, an innings laced with ten fours and four sixes.

The finishing touches were provided by Dockrell, whose explosive hitting stunned the Omani bowlers. He hammered five sixes, including three off the final three balls of the innings, propelling Ireland to a historic total and putting immense pressure on Oman ahead of the chase.

Chasing a daunting target of 236, Oman began confidently, racing to 21 runs in the first two overs with captain Jatinder Singh and Aamir Kaleem looking fluent. However, Ireland struck back swiftly in the third over, removing Jatinder and Ashish Odedara in quick succession to halt the early momentum.

Despite the setbacks, Aamir Kaleem showcased his experience and resilience. He forged a valuable 73-run partnership with Hammad Mirza, adopting an aggressive boundary-hitting approach to keep the required run rate within reach. Aamir brought up a brisk half-century off just 28 balls, becoming the oldest player in T20 World Cup history to score a fifty at 44 years and 81 days. His innings included five fours and two sixes.

Just as Oman seemed to be stabilising, Ireland clawed their way back into the contest. Aamir’s dismissal triggered a dramatic collapse, with the chasing side losing five wickets in the space of three overs. Mirza fought on, scoring 46 off 37 balls, but the mounting pressure eventually proved too much.

Ireland’s bowlers maintained relentless intensity. Joshua Little was outstanding with the new ball and at the death, returning figures of 3 for 16. He was well supported by Matthew Humphreys, who claimed two wickets while conceding just 27 runs, and Barry McCarthy, who picked up two for 32. McCarthy delivered the final blow in the 18th over by dismissing Sufyan Mehmood, bundling Oman out for 139 and sealing a comprehensive victory.

With this dominant all-round performance, Ireland not only kept their World Cup campaign alive but also sent a strong message to the rest of the competition. The win underlined their batting depth, bowling discipline, and the inspirational leadership of skipper Lorcan Tucker in a pressure-filled knockout scenario.

Brief Scores:
Ireland 235/5 in 20 overs (Lorcan Tucker 94*, Gareth Delany 56, George Dockrell 35*; Shakeel Ahmed 3-33, Aamir Kaleem 1-29)
Oman 139 all out in 18 overs (Aamir Kaleem 50, Hammad Mirza 46; Joshua Little 3-16, Matthew Humphreys 2-27, Barry McCarthy 2-32)
Ireland won by 96 runs.