Oman too good for Ireland

Ireland slumped to an embarrassing 43-run loss against hosts Oman in their second game of the Pentangular Series in Muscat. Batting first, Oman's Amil Khaleem clubbed 3 sixes and 2 fours as he top scored with 46 from just 27 balls, sharing a fourth wicket stand of 83 in nine overs with Jatinder Singh.

Opener Singh anchored the innings with 40, while Fayaaz Butt struck Mark Adair for consecutive sixes off the last two balls as Oman posted 173 for 9. Stuart Thompson - replacing Boyd Rankin in the only change from Saturday's win over The Netherlands - was the best of the attack claiming 2 for 21, while Adair took 2 for 28 despite the late damage to his figures.

The Irish chase started poorly as Paul Stirling went in the first over, but Kevin O'Brien and Andrew Balbirnie launched a fierce counter-attack as they added 50 in four overs. O'Brien clubbed 4 sixes and 2 fours as he top scored with 39 from just 16 balls, while in-form Balbirnie found the boundary four times in a quick-fire 19.

Thereafter the Irish were perhaps guilty of over-confidence, as both Balbirnie and O'Brien were caught on the long-off boundary attempting to clear the ropes. Despite the double set-back, the Irish were still well placed at 86 for 3 after just eight overs before the wheels came off in spectacular fashion.

Three wickets apiece for Mohammed Nadeem and Khawar Ali tore the middle order apart, as they lost seven wickets for 44 runs to be 130 all out. Mark Adair (18) offered some brief late resistance, but it was much too little, too late in a defeat which will give the Irish cause for concern.

It's perhaps expected that there be inconsistency given that this Irish side is very much one in transition, but a 43-run loss to an Associate is a result which should set alarm bells ringing less than two weeks away from the T20 World Cup Qualifiers. The defeat will certainly ensure no complacency against Oman and the other sides in Ireland's Group at those qualifiers. Ireland will hope there are more Dr Jekyll than Dr Hyde displays in the UAE later this month.