Ireland defeated Oman comprehensively by 96 runs in a Group C match in Colombo on Saturday.

The victory gives Ireland an outside chance of reaching the Super Eight stage.

After being invited to bat by the Oman skipper, Ireland made the competition’s highest score of 235 for the loss of five wickets in the allotted 20 overs.

Ireland suffered losses in the initial over and slumped to 64/4 in 7.3 overs.

However, they later regrouped to pile on 235/5 in 20 overs, the highest score at this T20 World Cup and the second-highest overall at T20 World Cups.

Earlier, Oman spinners made an impact straight away against the Irish.

Left-arm spinner Shakeel Ahmed gave Oman the perfect start as he ripped through the Irish top order.

However, Lorcan Tucker, who stood in for the injured Paul Stirling, turned the tables on opponents and muscled 94 not out.

The Irish side hammered eight sixes in their last three overs alone — more than Oman had in the tournament until then; the last five overs produced 94.

In response, Oman were bowled out for 139 with two overs left unused, the innings characterised by a rush of wickets following an early turbocharge from 44-year-old Aamir Kaleem, who muscled 50 off 29 balls.