Colombo, February 14 Ireland captain Lorcan Tucker produced a brilliant, unbeaten innings of 94 under pressure to lead his team to a 96-run victory over Oman in their T20 World Cup match here on Saturday.
Thanks to Tucker's impressive 51-ball knock, which included 10 boundaries and four sixes, Ireland amassed a formidable 235 for 5 before dismissing Oman for 139.
Tucker was instrumental in stabilizing the innings after Oman's 38-year-old left-arm spinner Shakeel Ahmed (3/33) had put Ireland under pressure with three early wickets, leaving them struggling at 64 for 4 in the eighth over.
Tucker then partnered with Gareth Delany (56) for a crucial 101-run partnership for the fifth wicket, before George Dockrell smashed an unbeaten 35 off just nine balls, with five sixes, to guide the team to a commanding total.
Oman attempted to keep pace with Ireland's scoring rate but lost wickets regularly, with opener Aamir Kaleem (50 off 29 balls) and Hammad Mirza (46 off 37) being the only batsmen to offer significant resistance.
However, with 108 for 5 in the 13th over, and the target still daunting, Oman's chase gradually lost momentum and eventually fizzled out.
Brief scores:
Ireland 235 for 5 in 20 overs (Lorcan Tucker 94 not out, Gareth Delany 56; Shakeel Ahmed 3/33, Aamir Kaleem 1/29)
Oman 139 in 18 overs (Aamir Kaleem 50, Hammad Mirza 46; Matthew Humphreys 2/27, Josh Little 3/16)
