On a scorching Valentine's Day in Colombo, Ireland found the love they were looking for in the 2026 T20 World Cup. Led by a sensational, career-best performance from stand-in captain Lorcan Tucker, the Men in Green secured a massive 96-run victory over Oman at the SSC.
Ireland's decision to bat first looked shaky early on as Shakeel Ahmed (3/33) ripped through the top order. However, the game transformed into a clinical exhibition of power-hitting.
Lorcan Tucker played the innings of his life, finishing on an unbeaten 94 off 51 balls* (10x4, 4x6). He effectively neutralized Oman’s spin attack during the middle overs before exploding at the death.
Partnership: Tucker and Gareth Delany (56 off 30) shared a blistering 101-run stand.
George Dockrell delivered the final strong effort, smashing 35 runs off just 9 deliveries (5x6). His final-over assault helped Ireland set the highest total of the 2026 edition so far.
Oman’s pursuit began with genuine intent, reaching 85/2 after 10 overs. However, the gulf in experience became evident once field restrictions were lifted.
Veteran’s milestone: 43-year-old Aamir Kaleem (50 off 29) became the oldest player to score a half-century in an ICC tournament.
Little impact: Once the fifth bowler introduced, Josh Little proved to be the game-changer. His spell of 3/16 in 4 overs triggered a collapse that saw Oman lose their final 7 wickets for just 25 runs.
Record for infamy: Oman became the first team in history to concede 200+ runs in consecutive T20 World Cup matches.
| Category | Ireland | Oman |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 235/5 (20 overs) | 139 All Out (17.6 overs) |
| Top Batter | Lorcan Tucker (94)* | Aamir Kaleem (50) |
| Top Bowler | Josh Little (3/16) | Shakeel Ahmed (3/33) |
| Death Over Runs | 86 (Final 4 Overs) | 25 (Final 5 Overs) |
| Result | Won by 96 Runs | Lost (Eliminated) |
Felt like we had a mixed-bag early on. We lost a lot of wickets but hit a lot of boundaries. It was about keeping my tempo and capitalizing on bad balls. We needed to come here and win big for our Net Run Rate.Player of the Match: Lorcan Tucker