T20 World Cup: Lorcan Tucker’s 94 keeps Ireland’s hopes alive in Group B

While Tucker filled in for the injured Paul Stirling as captain, it was Tim Tector who opened the batting in place of the Belfast man.

Ireland’s struggles for a top-order partnership, however, continued with Shakeel Ahmed doing the damage.

The 38-year-old, celebrating wickets in the style of Portugal footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, accounted for Tim Tector (5), Ross Adair (14) and Harry Tector (14) during the powerplay with Ireland reeling somewhat on 47-3 after six overs.

With Curtis Campher, who provided 12 off seven balls, not sticking around either, it was up to all-rounder Gareth Delany to team up with Tucker and give Ireland’s innings some much needed momentum.

The pair’s 101-run partnership off 56 balls took Ireland from what was a shaky start to a position that would lead to their highest ever T20 international total.

While there were seven boundaries among Delany’s 56 off 30 balls, it was Tucker’s efforts that were to provide the headline act.

An inventive knock that featured 10 fours and four sixes, the only scare came when, with Ireland 67-4, Vinayak Shukla appeared to have him stumped only for the third umpire to judge that Oman’s wicketkeeper had dislodged the bails without the ball in his hand.

Tucker certainly made the most of the reprieve, pressing on for what is the best knock of the tournament so far, eclipsing Tim Seifert’s 89 against UAE for New Zealand.

He would end the innings frustratingly stranded at the non-striker’s end, denied the chance for what would have been a first T20 century as George Dockrell, who plundered 35 from nine balls, faced the final three deliveries.