The Ireland vs Oman takes center stage this Saturday at SSC. It’s a straight-up elimination shootout for T20 World Cup survival. Having both lost their first two difficult matches without scoring, the teams have no room for error.
Ireland is in a tough spot, ranked fourth in Group B with a net run rate of -2.175. They’ll need to play exceptionally well against Oman in cricket to get out of this. Paul Stirling’s men need to dismantle the opposition to leapfrog Zimbabwe and keep their qualification hopes on life support. For Oman, languishing at the foot of the table, it is quite simply do-or-die territory.
The Colombo deck is expected to be a typical subcontinental slow-burner, where the spin squeeze through the middle overs will likely dictate the IRE vs Oman narrative.
However, with overhead clouds and forecast showers, those tracking the Ireland vs Oman live feed will need to keep a sharp eye on DLS par scores. Despite the winless runs, the scramble for Ireland vs Oman tickets remains intense as fans flock to see which side can hold their nerve when the stakes are at their most absolute.
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Pitch Report Sinhalese Sports Club Ground
The SSC surface is a classic subcontinental slow-burner that rewards tactical discipline over raw power. While the new ball offers early zip, the deck transforms once the powerplay ends; grip increases substantially, and the spin squeeze takes over, with tweakers claiming 58% of wickets here.
With average totals between 148 and 162, the middle-over grind is where this Ireland vs Oman cricket battle will be decided. Boundary frequency typically drops by 32% as the pitch slows, making strike rotation vital. A 55% rain forecast adds a layer of DLS complexity to this Ireland vs Oman T20 clash, likely forcing the toss-winner to bowl first.
Match details of Ireland vs Oman T20 World Cup
- Match: Ireland vs Oman, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
- Venue: Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Date: Saturday, February 14, 2026
- Time: 11:00 AM local (05:30 AM UTC)
- Format: T20 International
- Group: Group B
- Broadcast: Star Sports, Sky Sports, Willow TV, ThePapare.com
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar
- Tickets: BookmyShow
Group B Standings & NRR
| Rank | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sri Lanka | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +3.125 |
| 2 | Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +3.350 |
| 3 | Zimbabwe | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +2.702 |
| 4 | Ireland | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -2.175 |
| 5 | Oman | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -4.306 |
Ireland vs Oman T20I Head-to-Head Records
| Category | Ireland | Oman |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 6 | 6 |
| Won | 4 | 2 |
| Lost | 2 | 4 |
| Win Percentage | 66.67% | 33.33% |
| Highest Score | 183/3 | 173/9 |
| Lowest Score | 130 | 109 |
Team News
Ireland vs Oman team compositions show contrasting approaches as both squads finalize playing elevens for this crucial elimination battle. Ireland welcomes Ross Adair’s return from a knee injury, strengthening top-order firepower alongside Paul Stirling’s aggressive intent.
Their strategy emphasizes aggressive powerplay batting followed by spin choke through the middle overs. Josh Little and Mark Adair provide genuine pace depth. Matthew Humphreys leads spin attack with left-arm variations.
Ireland relies on experienced finishers like Lorcan Tucker and George Dockrell to rescue collapses. Oman recalled Wasim Ali and Jay Odedra specifically for subcontinental expertise.
Jatinder Singh’s captaincy faces scrutiny following consecutive heavy defeats. Vinayak Shukla must provide explosive starts. Sufyan Mehmood leads the pace attack against Ireland’s aggressive openers.
Probable XIs Ireland vs Oman T20 World Cup
Ireland Probable XI: Ross Adair, Tim Tector, Andrew Balbirnie, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (c & wk), George Dockrell, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Joshua Little, Matthew Humphreys
Oman Probable XI: Jatinder Singh (c), Aamir Kaleem, Hammad Mirza (wk), Karan Sonavale, Wasim Ali, Sufyan Mehmood, Vinayak Shukla, Jiten Ramanandi, Nadeem Khan, Shakeel Ahmed, Faisal Shah
Match Prediction
Ireland vs Oman encounter suggests the Irish hold a decisive edge, predicated on superior squad depth and a bowling blueprint better suited to the SSC’s slow-turning deck.
Ireland can effectively employ various spin bowlers to control the middle overs, a capability Oman, which relies on fast bowlers, does not currently possess. Should Ireland post a total exceeding 170, their experience in high-stakes Ireland vs Oman cricket matchups should see them choke the chase effectively.
However, Colombo’s 55% rain probability introduces a critical DLS variable. While Ireland manages reduced-overs scenarios with clinical precision, early breakthroughs from Sufyan Mehmood remain Oman’s best path to an upset. Ultimately, Ireland’s spin resources make them firm favourites to secure a vital NRR-boosting victory.
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