Jatinder Singh won the toss on a warm Colombo morning and, without much fuss, decided his Oman side would bowl first against Ireland in this Group B T20 World Cup match at the Sinhalese Sports Club. “Bit of moisture, might nip around early,” he said – the sort of straightforward reasoning captains give at every toss, yet usually worth noting.
Two tweaks apiece
Oman have shuffled one batter and one bowler. Middle-order right-hander Ashish Odedara comes in for Wasim Ali, whose returns of 3 (8 balls) and 27 (20) never quite got going. Left-arm spinner Shakeel Ahmed takes the place of fellow tweaker Jay Odedra, who bowled only the solitary over – tidy though it was – against Sri Lanka.
Ireland’s alterations are partly forced. Paul Stirling’s knee-ligament injury has ended his tournament, so Lorcan Tucker steps up as captain. Tim Tector – six T20Is to his name – slots into the middle order, while left-arm quick Josh Little replaces Ben Calitz to freshen the attack. Uncapped opener Sam Topping has joined the squad but will have to wait.
Form guide (or lack of one)
Neither side has a victory to show after two outings. Oman were soundly beaten by Sri Lanka on Thursday; Ireland took a heavy hit from Australia across town at the Premadasa. No panic yet, but another defeat today and the Super Eights will start to feel distant.
Teams
Ireland: Ross Adair, Tim Tector, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (capt, wk), Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little.
Oman: Aamir Kaleem, Jatinder Singh (capt), Hammad Mirza, Ashish Odedara, Mohammad Nadeem, Jiten Ramanandi, Vinayak Shukla (wk), Nadeem Khan, Sufyan Mehmood, Shah Faisal, Shakeel Ahmed.
Why it matters
Winless starts are recoverable in a short tournament, but only just. A single result can revive a campaign, especially with net run-rate still malleable. A loss, on the other hand, leaves mathematical miracles as the main ally.
Pitch and conditions
The SSC strip has looked true once the lacquer is off. Early swing tends to disappear quickly, so batting second – with a target in sight and the evening dew creeping in – usually appeals.
Little things to watch
• Josh Little v Jatinder Singh: left-arm pace against a right-hand opener keen to drive on the up.
• Shakeel Ahmed’s ability to hold length; Ireland’s middle order has struggled against spin that keeps the stumps in play.
Hardly a blockbuster on paper, yet plenty riding on it for two sides eager to stay relevant.
