Ireland hardshipped a two-wicket defeat against Oman in their ICC World Cup opener. 

 

William Porterfield’s men were unable to defend 154 for five. Sorensen failed to control his yorkers under lights, serving up an initial no‑ball to put Oman back in with a chance before another stump-high delivery sped away for four byes to seal the outcome.

 

Oman’s stands of 69 for the first wicket and then 47 for the sixth, after five had gone for only 21 runs mid-chase, led to the thrilling finish in a fluctuating contest.

 

Top scorer Gary Wilson had fortune on his side, until his was the first of two wickets to fall in the same over to Munis Ansari.

 

The seamer had conceded 11 runs from his first two deliveries – but when he returned for his second over he had Niall O’Brien mistiming to short fine-leg and then Wilson missed an attempted big hit and was bowled.

 

Ireland nonetheless scraped out a par total, but the Oman openers Maqsood and Khawar Ali put it well within range.

 

 

The off-spinner Andy McBrine then took two wickets in four deliveries. But just when it seemed Ireland were in control, the sixth‑wicket pair Jatinder Singh and Aamer Ali had different ideas.

 

Oman were right back in it after Tim Murtagh conceded 20 runs in the 17th over, including three successive fours to Ali – and despite more twists and turns Ireland eventually came unstuck.

 

Oman and Bangladesh, who beat the Netherlands by eight runs are therefore the early Group A frontrunners.