Ireland’s cricket team made St Patrick’s Day one of the country’s most memorable holidays for the year when they upset Pakistan to record the country’s greatest day in the sport yesterday.
The day earmarked to celebrate the country’s Patron Saint, was transformed into an orgy of pleasure for hundreds of fans when the national side ambushed one of the world’s better teams via a three-wicket victory at Sabina Park.
The unheralded amateurs outplayed the number three ranked ODI side in the world from the start after they won the toss and decided to field first in ideal bowling conditions.
After bundling out the much vaunted opposition for 132 in 45.4 overs, Ireland held firm to chase down the total despite many anxious moments, ending on 133 runs for seven wickets off 41.4 overs. Pakistan’s second loss in two games, means they have been booted from the World Cup in the first round for the second series in succession after failing in South Africa in 2003.
For their tremendous display Ireland have given themselves a 99 percent chance of advancing to the second round Super Eight stage in their very first World Cup. Unless Zimbabwe spring a few more miraculous results in their final two games, Ireland will advance following their tie with the former team.
Despite suffering two umpiring mistakes Ireland survived in gloomy conditions.
Overnight batting star Jeremy Bray, the Australia-born opener was given out leg before by umpire Billy Bowden for three when the delivery was clearly about to clear the top of the stumps.
Then at 70 Andre Botha was agonizingly given marching orders by Brian Jerling for a catch that hit the pad, miles from the bat, after Mohammed Hafeez took a juggling catch on the second attempt, to make it four wickets down But Ireland had a match winner in Nial O’Brien who stuck a brilliant 73 in a one-man show of strength reminiscent of Jeremy Bray’s ton against Zimbabwe, as wickets tumbled around him.
The right-hander hammered 10 fours and one six, to win the Man of the Match award before being stumped going for a second maximum off consecutive balls, off, offspinner Shoaib Malik.
At that stage Ireland were 113-6 and with Pakistan threatening to run though the innings, Trent Johnson and Kylie O’Brien steered them to victory, with the latter hosting Azhar Mahmood’s slower ball for six to seal the country’s greatest ever cricket victory.
Pakistan had one of those days of eccentric displays that have haunted them in international cricket over the years. The failed to take advantage of having the two favourable umpiring decisions going they way that were clearly flawed and could not break down the stubborn Irish batsman.
All Pakistan’s batsmen failed miserably as they seemed in another world and time as Ireland started strongly, sending the favourites in a tailspin from the get go.
Towering paceman Boyd Rankin who before generated great pace and bounce from his massive 6 foot 7 inch frame, had the Pakistan batsmen ducking and weaving on a grassy pitch in overcast conditions. He finished with three wickets for thirty-two off nine overs, but it was the off spin of Andre Botha who had the most amazing figures of 2-5 off eight overs.
Similarly Kylie McCallan, the last of six bowlers used captured 2-12. Langford-Smith finished with 1-31 off his 10 and the much needed support was produced by Kylie O’Brien with 1-29 and Trent Johnson 1-20 from seven overs.
Pakistan’s much heralded batting lineup was made to look the way the Irish bowlers were supposed to appear overwhelmed.
They crumbled under the pressure applied by the Irish on a lively track in overcast conditions, after they were setback early losing 2 wickets with only 15 runs on the board.
Hafeez was sent packing by a prodigious outswinger from Langford-Smith and soon after Younis Khan suffered the same fate at the hands of Rankin.
Mohammed Yusuf and Imran Nazir then added 41 before Johnson got rid of Yusuf, the man who set the record for calendar Test runs last year. So far in the World Cup he has looked a far cry from a world record holder. His 18 failed to inspire the team’s most accomplished batsman and captain Inzamam-ul-Haq who was sent back by Botha for one.
Wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal showed some fight hitting 27 but all his other batting mates were shamed by the amateurs, with Malik falling for nine and Mahmood for 2.
As Pakistan face the prospect of a stormy return home, many more Irish fans are expected to fly to the islands to join the hundreds who made the party stand yesterday, a place of maximum pleasure.
