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NEW DELHI: Skipper Lorcan Tucker produced a stunning 51-ball 94, backed by a disciplined bowling display, as Ireland thrashed Oman by a massive 96 runs in a one-sided Group B T20 World Cup clash on Saturday.

Asked to bat, Tucker launched a fierce counterattack, hammering 10 fours and four sixes in a breathtaking knock as Ireland surged from 47 for 3 to 235 for five, the highest total of this edition of the T20 World Cup.

Oman’s Chase Falters After Brief Hope

In reply, Aamir Kaleem (50) and Hammad Mirza (46) briefly raised hopes for Oman, but once the duo was dismissed, the chase unraveled quickly as they were bundled out for 139 in 18 overs.

As many as eight Omani batters failed to reach double figures.

Josh Little spearheaded the bowling effort with an impressive three for 16 from four overs, well supported by Matthew Humphreys (2/27), Barry McCarthy (2/32) and George Dockrell (1/6).

Despite the emphatic victory, Ireland remained fourth on the points table, with Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Australia occupying the top three spots. Oman slipped to their third defeat of the tournament.

Early Spin Strikes Put Ireland Under Pressure

Earlier, opting to bowl, Oman went spin-heavy from the outset, using spinners for five of the six Powerplay overs. The tactic paid early dividends as left-arm spinner Shakeel Ahmed ripped through the Irish top order with a three-wicket burst.

Shakeel struck in the opening over by removing Tim Tector and later accounted for Ross Adair, who had counterpunched briefly with three boundaries off Shah Faisal. Harry Tector also fell to Shakeel in the fifth over as Ireland wobbled.

Veteran Aamir Kaleem, the tournament’s oldest player at 44, tightened the screws further by dismissing Curtis Campher, leaving Ireland under pressure.

Late-Over Onslaught Turns the Game

The momentum swung decisively once Tucker found his range.

He stitched together a blazing 101-run stand off 56 balls with Gareth Delany (56) to wrest back control. That was followed by a brutal 70-run partnership off just 19 deliveries with George Dockrell (35), whose nine-ball cameo featured five towering sixes.

The assault was ruthless. A staggering 86 runs came off the final four overs as Oman’s bowlers wilted under relentless pressure.

Tucker, who survived a stumping chance earlier, brought up his half-century off 35 balls with a boundary off Kaleem. Delany matched him shot for shot, smashing back-to-back sixes off Jiten Ramanandi in an 18-run 15th over. He reached his fifty off 28 balls before falling in the 17th.

Tucker continued the carnage, plundering three sixes and two fours off Mohammad Nadeem in a 26-run over. The penultimate over went for 21, with Dockrell joining the party by clearing the ropes twice.

Dockrell then finished in style, smashing the final three balls for sixes as Ireland piled up the tournament’s highest total.

Player of the Match Tucker said he had to work hard against spin early before settling into his rhythm.

“It felt like a mixed bag. We hit plenty of boundaries but lost wickets too. Batting early on was a bit tricky and I had to work hard against spin. It was about keeping my tempo and cashing in on loose balls,” Tucker said.

He added that the huge win had given Ireland a vital boost in net run rate, which could prove decisive later in the tournament.

“One of our best days. We turned up and played positive cricket, and the net run rate boost is massive,” he added.

(With PTI Inputs)