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- Ireland vs Oman Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Ireland secure massive 96-run win over Oman
Ireland vs Oman Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Ireland secure massive 96-run win over Oman
Oman have won the toss and have opted to field.
Ireland have endured a difficult start to their campaign and are currently fourth in the group without a point. Their problems have been compounded by the injury to regular captain Paul Stirling, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament. Sam Topping has been named as his replacement, while Harry Tector will lead the side on the field. The Irish team will rely on their experienced core, including Lorcan Tucker, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, and Mark Adair, to provide stability, while young talents will be eager to make an impact.
Oman, captained by Jatinder Singh, are also winless after two matches and will be desperate to open their account. Players like Aamir Kaleem, Mohammad Nadeem, and Vinayak Shukla will be key to their chances as they look to challenge Ireland in what could be a tightly contested match.
Historically, Ireland have dominated this matchup, winning four of the six previous encounters between the two sides, while Oman have claimed two victories. Both teams have had identical recent form, with two wins and three losses in their last five games, highlighting how evenly matched they are.
With both sides needing points urgently, fans can expect an intense and competitive battle in Colombo.
Three wickets in three overs. The Oman batters are padding up quickly. Here is Jiten Ramanandi now.
Josh Little to Mohammad Nadeem, OUT! TAKEN! Another one bites the dust! Josh Little lands this short of a length and on middle, takes off a bit. Mohammad Nadeem goes for the pull but does not go fully through the shot. It flies off the top edge towards deep square leg, where Gareth Delany this time manages to hold on to it. He makes amends for his earlier dropped catch. Oman lose half their side now.
Josh Little to Mohammad Nadeem, A quick and sharp bouncer, on middle and leg, too good for Mohammad Nadeem to pull it away.
- Mohammad Nadeem 1 (1)
- Hammad Mirza 43 (33)
George Dockrell to Mohammad Nadeem, Shorter delivery around leg, Mohammad Nadeem nudges it off his hips to short fine for another run.
Out goes Vinayak Shukla, in comes Mohammad Nadeem.
George Dockrell to Vinayak Shukla, OUT! CAUGHT! George Dockrell gets a wicket now. He floats it up, full and on off. Vinayak Shukla skips down the track to go over extra cover, but gets too close to the ball and fails to get the elevation. He ends up hitting it flat and aerially straight to short cover, where Matthew Humphreys takes a simple catch. Shukla departs for a two-baller, and Oman are four down now.
George Dockrell to Hammad Mirza, Flatter, full and on leg, Hammad Mirza clips it towards short fine for a single.
George Dockrell to Hammad Mirza, Drops it short and on middle, Hammad Mirza tucks it with soft hands towards mid-wicket and comes back for the second run. Good running again!
George Dockrell to Hammad Mirza, Short again and outside off, Hammad Mirza cuts it straight to point.
George Dockrell is into the attack.
George Dockrell to Hammad Mirza, Floated, short and on middle, Hammad Mirza nudges it through mid-wicket for a couple of runs.
- Vinayak Shukla 0 (1)
- Hammad Mirza 38 (29)
Barry McCarthy to Vinayak Shukla, On a length and on middle, Vinayak Shukla blocks it out.
Barry McCarthy to Vinayak Shukla, FIVE WIDES! Bonus runs! Barry McCarthy tries another bouncer but this is way too high. Vinayak Shukla leaves it alone and the keeper also has no chance of stopping as it rolls to the fence behind for a boundary. 100 UP FOR OMAN!
Vinayak Shukla walks to the middle, replacing the half-centurion, Aamir Kaleem.
Barry McCarthy to Aamir Kaleem, OUT! TAKEN! Fifty and out for Aamir Kaleem and the threatening 73-run stand has been broken now. Barry McCarthy bangs in a well-directed delivery, angling into the batter. Aamir Kaleem goes for the pull but takes his eyes off the ball, with the ball following him. It takes the top edge and flies towards fine leg where Matthew Humphreys runs forward and takes a good catch. Oman are 97/3, still needing 139 runs in 55 balls.
Barry McCarthy to Hammad Mirza, Short of a length and on middle, Hammad Mirza gets hurried and miscues his pull towards mid-wicket for one.
Barry McCarthy to Hammad Mirza, FOUR! Easy pickings! Barry McCarthy tries to overcorrect but pitches it up down the leg side. Hammad Mirza just has to get some bat on it and tickles it away to the fine leg fence for a boundary.
Barry McCarthy to Hammad Mirza, SIX! Picked up and how! Barry McCarthy goes fuller, angling into the pads. Hammad Mirza just picks it up, brings his wrists into play and whips it nonchalantly over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.
Barry McCarthy to Aamir Kaleem, FIFTY FOR KALEEM! A fantastic knock from the Oman opener, and this is a massive moment for him. He gets to it in just 28 balls. On a length and on off, Aamir Kaleem runs it down to deep third for a single. He takes his helmet off and raises his bat to celebrate the milestone, but also knows the job is not done here.
- Aamir Kaleem 49 (27)
- Hammad Mirza 27 (26)
Harry Tector to Aamir Kaleem, Right-arm slingy action, short and wide. Kaleem slaps it to cover and scampers across for a run. The fielder has a shy at the bowler's end but Kaleem was in.
Harry Tector to Hammad Mirza, Much better! Fuller delivery, around off, turning in, HM turns it down to long on for a single.
Harry Tector to Hammad Mirza, FOUR! Good shot! Short and wide from Harry Tector, asking to be hit. Hammad Mirza frees his arms and flat-bats it over extra-cover for a boundary. Mirza needs to move on.
Harry Tector to Aamir Kaleem, Tosses it up, fuller and aorund off, Kaleem drops it wide of cover for a run.
Harry Tector to Hammad Mirza, Little bit too full and in the slot, around off. Mirza stands and hits away down the ground. The long off fielder runs across and cuts it off. One.
Harry Tector comes into the attack now.
Harry Tector to Aamir Kaleem, A straighter delivery, lands it around off and gets it to turn and bounce. Kaleem paddles it around the corner and rotates the strike.
- Aamir Kaleem 46 (24)
- Hammad Mirza 21 (23)
Josh Little to Aamir Kaleem, Shorter delivery, outside off, Kaleem helps it away to third man and keeps the strike. 9 runs off the over.
Josh Little to Hammad Mirza, Hard length, pace on this time and on leg. Hammad Mirza swivels pulls it to deep square leg. Uppish and it drops short of the man there. A single.
Josh Little to Aamir Kaleem, A slower bumper into the surface, outside off, guided to third man for one.
Josh Little to Aamir Kaleem, Back of a length, outside off, Kaleem cuts it stylishly and to the right of point. A diving effort in the deep by the fielder and he flicks it back for the man running across and saves a couple of runs.
Josh Little to Aamir Kaleem, Little brings the stumps into play with a length delivery. Kaleem goes behind and taps it back to the bowler.
Josh Little to Aamir Kaleem, FOUR! Slapped away! Sweet sound off the blade. Overpitches a scrambled seam delivery, wide outside off. Kaleem crouches and thumps it through covers for a boundary.
- Hammad Mirza 20 (22)
- Aamir Kaleem 38 (19)
Gareth Delany to Hammad Mirza, Slower through the air, drifting onto the batter. Gareth Delany bowls a flatter delivery. Mirza tries to flick it away but wears it on the pads.
Gareth Delany to Hammad Mirza, Tossed up, fuller and outside off, Hammad Mirza plays it to cover.
Gareth Delany to Hammad Mirza, Slides it full and down the leg side, Hammad Mirza tries to sweep it away but misses. Wide not given. Oh, it went off the gloves. So, that's another chance put down. Tough one for the keeper to collect but Ireland need to take their chances.
Gareth Delany to Hammad Mirza, Gareth Delany follows Hammad Mirza on the leg side with a fuller delivery, this is punched to cover.
Gareth Delany to Hammad Mirza, Fractionall short, into the surface and on middle, Mirza makes room and cuts well but finds the point fielder.
Gareth Delany to Aamir Kaleem, Pitches it up, outside off, Kaleem crunches it to deep cover for a single.
- Hammad Mirza 20 (17)
- Aamir Kaleem 37 (18)
Josh Little to Hammad Mirza, On a nagging length and around off, Hammad Mirza knocks it to point.
Josh Little to Aamir Kaleem, PUT DOWN! Should have been taken! Hard length delivery, outside off, Kaleem flashes to the width and hits it straight to deep point. Gareth Delany doesn't move an inch, bends low to reverse cup and spills it out. A single.
Josh Little to Hammad Mirza, Keeps attacking the stumps with a good length delivery. Mirza gets inside the line and turns it to mid-wicket for a single.
Josh Little to Hammad Mirza, Well bowled! Tight from Little as this is onto the stumps on a length. Mirza pats it back on the deck.
Josh Little to Hammad Mirza, Extra bounce as Josh Little bowls into the surface, outside off, Mirza taps it to point.
Josh Little to Aamir Kaleem, Short of a length and on middle, Kaleem is pegged back as he pulls it to deep square leg for a single.
DRINKS! Oman are actually ahead of Ireland at the end of the Powerplay. However, the challenge for them is that, even after scoring more than 10 runs an over, they are still behind the asking rate. This partnership between Aamir Kaleem and Hammad Mirza is looking strong, but they need to continue like this and cannot slow down in any phase. Ireland does not need to do anything different, as they know that the pressure is on the batters and opportunities will come their way, which they just need to hold on. Also, Josh Little to bowl after the break.
- Hammad Mirza 19 (13)
- Aamir Kaleem 35 (16)
Gareth Delany to Hammad Mirza, Tosses it up, fuller and on leg, Hammad Mirza nudges it to square leg. 12 runs off the over. Oman end the Powerplay at 63/2, needing 173 more runs to win.
Gareth Delany to Hammad Mirza, Pushes it full and tailing on leg, Mirza sweeps it well but straight to short fine leg.
Gareth Delany to Aamir Kaleem, Slower in the air, flat and around off, tapped to point for a single.
Gareth Delany to Aamir Kaleem, SIX! JUST OVER! Gareth Delany bowls a half-tracker and on leg, Kaleem swings across the line as he goes back, hits it over square leg and over the fielder there for a six.
Gareth Delany to Aamir Kaleem, FOUR! Nicely played! Fires it full and in line of the stumps. Kaleem gets on his knee and sweeps it to deep square leg, in the gap for a boundary. A bit too quick from Gareth Delany.
Match 22 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 sees Ireland take on Oman in a Group B clash at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Saturday. Both teams are searching for their first win of the tournament after losing their opening two matches, making this encounter crucial for their campaign.
Ireland have had a tough start and currently sit fourth in the group without a point. They have also suffered a major setback with captain Paul Stirling ruled out of the rest of the tournament due to injury, with Sam Topping drafted in as his replacement. Harry Tector will lead the Irish side, who will be banking on experienced players like Curtis Campher, Lorcan Tucker, and Joshua Little to turn their fortunes around.
Oman, led by Jatinder Singh, are in a similar situation, having lost both their matches so far. They will look to players like Aamir Kaleem and Mohammad Nadeem to provide key contributions with bat and ball.
Ireland hold a slight edge in the head-to-head record, winning four of the six meetings, but both teams have shown similar form recently. With both sides desperate for points, this match promises to be a competitive contest in Colombo.
Match Statistics
Venue
Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo
