DHARAMSALA, India: Ireland and Netherlands crashed out of the World T20 on Friday after rain forced their respective matches in Dharamsala to be abandoned with Bangladesh and Oman setting up a Group A decider to make the Super 10s.

While Netherlands' match versus Oman was called off without a ball being bowled, Ireland got some action against Bangladesh before heavy rain intervened and washed away their hopes.

After a delayed start, the second match witnessed Ireland winning the toss and inviting Bangladesh to bat in a game reduced to 12-overs-a-side.

Opener Tamim Iqbal's breezy 47 provided good entertainment to the sparse crowd that had stayed on patiently as Bangladesh were 94 for two after eight overs when rain stopped play for one final time.

Earlier the Dutch, who shared a point with Oman in the rained-off game, had been put in to field after losing the toss but play was not possible due to bad weather.

"There's extreme disappointment. We've put in a lot of time, effort and energy in trying to qualify. For it to end like this after having lost to Bangladesh in a closely-fought game, we are gutted," Dutch skipper Peter Borren said.

There are no reserve days at the tournament to cater for rain-hit matches.

Oman, who stunned Ireland in their first group encounter, are looking like giant-killers ahead of their winner-takes-all clash against favourites Bangladesh on Sunday.

"We were confident coming into the game. We are still alive if we beat Bangladesh. We put in consistent performances in the qualifiers in Ireland and Scotland. They (players) are all excited," a beaming Oman captain Sultan Ahmed said.

Oman had defeated Ireland by two wickets in their first game while Bangladesh edged the Netherlands by just eight runs.

Chokers tag is 'monkey on back'

Skipper Faf du Plessis acknowledged Friday South Africa's reputation as big-match chokers had become "a monkey on the back" of the team that they would only shed by winning an international trophy.

Since their readmission in 1991 after the apartheid era ban, the Proteas have been the nearly men of world cups in both T20 and 50 over cricket, falling agonisingly short of the final on several occasions.

Their defeat to New Zealand in the semi-final of last year's World Cup, after a disastrous final over by star bowler Dale Steyn, revived accusations that the team are "chokers" who can't handle pressure.

Asked about the chokers tag at a press conference ahead of the World T20 in India, du Plessis said they were coping better at crunch points in tight matches and had improved their record on chasing totals.

"The only way you can get rid of that (the chokers' tag) is to perform under pressure," said the 31-year-old batsman.

"I think it's fair but the only way you will ever get that monkey off your back is if you do win a trophy.

"For now this team hasn't been thinking of that at all, we are just trying to play good cricket and the important thing for me is that in the build-up to this World Cup ... there's been real pressure moments that the team has stood up and played well."

Despite their failure to win a major trophy, South Africa go into the tournament as one of the favourites and are currently in third place in the T20 world rankings.

Du Plessis said that hosts India are favourites after an impressive run of victories, but added that South Africa were in with a shout in what he predicted would be a "cracker" of a tournament.

"The majority of the squad play IPL cricket so for us its not foreign conditions, we know what to expect here," he said in reference to India's lucrative T20 domestic league.

"We know that if we do play our best cricket then we will be there or thereabouts... In T20 cricket, anyone can beat anyone on their day so we are looking forward to the competition. I think it's going to be a real cracker."

South Africa's opening match is against England in Mumbai on Friday, March 18.