Oman stun Ireland on debut as Bangladesh hold nerve to win

Friday, 11 March 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Oman’s Munis Ansari (R) and Ajay Lalcheta react after their team’s victory in the World T20 cricket tournament match between Ireland and Oman at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala – AFP

REUTERS: Oman celebrated their first appearance at an International Cricket Council event by stunning more fancied Ireland by two wickets in a World Twenty20 match in Dharamsala on Wednesday.

A team made up of mostly expats from India and Pakistan, Oman chased down Ireland’s total of 154-5 with two balls to spare after needing 14 runs off the last over.

It all went wrong for paceman Max Sorensen who served up two no-balls for bowling high full tosses as Ireland’s hopes of making it to the main draw from Group A faded.

Bangladesh avoided Ireland’s fate earlier in the day as the Asian test-playing nation staved off a spirited fightback from the Netherlands to kick off their campaign with a tight eight-run victory. Fresh from their impressive Asia Cup show at home where they defeated Pakistan and Sri Lanka to reach the final, Bangladesh would have liked to prove they are a much better side than to be competing with the associates for a place in the Super 10 stage.

But impressive bowling from seamers Timm van der Gugten (3-21) and Paul van Meekeren (2-17) restricted Bangladesh after they were put in to bat and it was left to opener Tamim Iqbal to lift his team to 153-7 with an unbeaten 83. Left-hander Tamim carried his bat through the innings, hitting six fours and three sixes in his 58-ball knock to notch up his fourth half-century in the shortest format of the game while all his batting colleagues struggled.

The Netherlands appeared well on course for an upset win until they lost their way by losing three quick wickets to finish on 145-7.

They were 112-3 in the 16th over but were reduced to 121-6 before Mudassar Bukhari and Pieter Seelaar smashed paceman Al-Amin Hossain for 16 in the penultimate over to keep Netherlands interested.