DHARAMSALA, India (AP) Debutant Oman pulled off a thrilling two-wicket victory over Ireland, while Bangladesh scored a close eight-run win over the Netherlands in Group A at the World Twenty20 on Wednesday.
Oman restricted Ireland to 154-5 with some tight bowling in the final overs, before being helped by some loose bowling from Ireland toward the end of the match as it reached 157-8 in 19.4 overs.
Openers Zeeshan Maqsood (38) and Khawar Ali (34) added 69 in 8.3 overs to set up the chase.
Jatinder Singh (24) got some useful runs in the middle overs before Aamer Ali turned the tables with a 17-ball 32 with five fours and a six.
''God was with us and we were trying to get boundaries in every over,'' Ali said. ''We've done a lot of hard work before coming to the World Cup, and finally it has paid off.''
Earlier, wicketkeeper-batsman Gary Wilson top-scored for Ireland with a 34-ball 38 after captain William Porterfield and Paul Stirling contributed 29 apiece in a 48-run opening partnership.
Ireland could not increase the rate of scoring even though it reached a comfortable 112-2 in 15 overs as pace bowler Munis Ansari grabbed 3-37 including a twin-strike.
He dismissed Niall O'Brien (16) and Wilson in the 16th over and Kevin O'Brien (14) in the last over of the innings.
In the first game, group favorite Bangladesh reached 153-7 after being put in to bat, and then restricted the Netherlands to 145-7.
Bangladesh, which had a fine run to the Asia Cup final last weekend, was boosted by left-handed opener Tamim Iqbal's unbeaten 83 off 58 balls.
Iqbal shared a 42-run second-wicket stand with Sabbir Rahman (15) before Timm van der Gugten (3-21) limited Bangladesh to 112-5 by clean bowling Mahmudullah (10) and Mushfiqur Rahim (0) in the space of three deliveries.
Iqbal and Arafat Sunny hit a six each to collect 15 runs in the last over off medium pacer Logan van Beek, who returned 0-43.
''I've been talking to my coaches and been calm in the middle,'' said Iqbal, who smashed six fours and three sixes. ''They bowled a decent line and length and the wicket wasn't the easiest.''
The Netherlands were pegged back by Al-Amin Hossain and the experienced Shakib Al Hasan, who snared two wickets each.
Netherlands captain Peter Borren top-scored with 30 and Stephan Myburgh added 29, but Bangladesh struck at regular intervals.
Netherlands pushed too late to have a shot at the target as Borren top-edged Al Hasan in the 16th over to leave his team requiring 42 off the last four overs.
-----
Brief scores:
Bangladesh 153-7 (Tamim Iqbal 83, Timm van der Gugten 3-21) def. Netherlands 145-7 (Peter Borren 30, Stephen Myburgh 29).
Oman 157-8 in 19.4 overs (Zeeshan Maqsood 38, Khawar Ali 34, Aamer Ali 32) def. Ireland 154-5 (Gary Wilson 34, William Porterfield 29, Paul Stirling 29; Munis Ansari 3-37).
