Ireland Crush Oman with Record T20 Score

In a dazzling display of batting, Ireland set a new benchmark in the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup by posting a mammoth total against Oman at the SSC Ground in Colombo. Despite the tournament still being in its group stage, Ireland’s performance produced one of the highest team scores of the tournament, and the fifth 200-plus total in just this edition—matching a feat previously only seen in the 2007 World Cup.

After losing the toss and batting first, Ireland amassed 235 for 5 in their 20 overs. This is not only the highest score in the 2026 T20 World Cup so far, but also the second-highest ever in T20 World Cup history, behind Sri Lanka’s 260 for 6 against Kenya in 2007.

Ireland’s innings had a shaky start, losing three wickets for just 45 runs in the first five overs. By 7.3 overs, the fourth wicket had fallen at 64. Early dismissals included Tim Tector (5), Ross Adair (14), Harry Tector (12), and Curtis Campher (14). Yet Ireland’s recovery was orchestrated by two exceptional partnerships.

Captain Lorcan Tucker and Gareth Delany put together 101 runs from 56 balls for the fifth wicket. Following that, Tucker and George Dockrell added an astonishing 70 runs from just 19 balls for the sixth wicket, completely dominating Oman’s bowlers. Tucker remained unbeaten on 94 from 51 balls, hitting four sixes and ten fours. Delany scored 56 off 30 balls, while Dockrell finished 35* off 9 balls.

Tucker’s innings ranks as the second-highest by a captain in T20 World Cup history, after Chris Gayle. Ireland scored 93 runs in the final five overs—marking the third-highest ‘death over’ total in T20 World Cup history. The Tucker–Dockrell partnership also set a new record for runs per over in a T20 World Cup partnership, scoring at 22.10 runs per over, surpassing Mike Hussey and Mitchell Johnson’s 19.87 against Pakistan in 2010.

Oman’s reply started promisingly, reaching 85 for 2 after ten overs, but a collapse saw them lose eight wickets for 54 runs in the final eight overs, finishing 18 overs all out for 139. Opener Amir Kaleem top-scored with 50 from 29 balls, becoming the oldest player to score a T20 World Cup fifty at 44 years and 86 days. Hammad Mirza contributed 46 runs from 37 balls.

Match Summary

Result: Ireland won by 96 runs.
Player of the Match: Lorcan Tucker (Ireland).

Ireland’s dominant batting and record-breaking partnerships highlight their growing stature in T20 cricket, leaving Oman with an early exit from the tournament and the Irish fans celebrating a historic victory.