Ireland join the World Cup giantkillers by AFP

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Event:

ICC World Cup 2006/07

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DateLine: 18th March 2007

 

This World Cup was widely derided in advance for having too many minnow nations.

 

But Ireland, in one of the all-time great World Cup upsets, sent 1992 champions Pakistan crashing out of the tournament with a three-wicket win at Jamaica's Sabina Park on Saturday.

 

And on the same day Bangladesh, whose elevation to Test status has been heavily criticised, beat India by five wickets, 24 hours after the death of their international colleague Manjarul Islam in a road accident.

 

On St Patrick's Day, World Cup debutants Ireland chased a revised target of 128 from 47 overs to win with 32 balls to spare, when captain Trent Johnson smashed Azhar Mahmood over long-on for six after Niall O'Brien had made 72.

 

However, three of the four heaviest defeats in the history of the World Cup came during the first three days of the 2007 tournament.

 

Sri Lanka beat Bermuda by 243 runs, South Africa romped to a 221-run win against the Netherlands, in a match reduced to 40 overs each because of rain, while Scotland lost by 202 runs to Australia.

 

Ironically, Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, formerly the head of the International Cricket Council's high performance unit which exists to improve the standard of leading junior nations, had warned Ireland could cause an upset just hours before they embarrassed his side.

 

Ex-England batsman Woolmer, in his www.cricinfo.com column published earlier Saturday, said Ireland were "a serious banana skin fixture".

 

Ireland's victory handed Pakistan their second straight defeat in the competition, following their 54-run loss to hosts West Indies last Tuesday.

 

There was also joy for Bangladesh with left-handed opener Tamim Iqbal, who turns 18 on Tuesday, making 51 for his maiden half-century as his team successfully chased a 192-run target.

 

After a shock-free first World Cup in 1975, Sri Lanka posted the first real upset win four years later when they beat India by 47 runs at Old Trafford.

 

Sri Lanka made 238 for five thanks to fifties from Siddath Wettimuny, Duleep Mendis and Roy Dias.

 

They then dismissed India for 191, Stanley de Silva and fellow paceman Tony Opatha taking three wickets apiece.

 

Four years later Zimbabwe, in their first World Cup match, beat Australia by 13 runs at Trent Bridge after a fairytale display from captain Duncan Fletcher, now England's coach.

 

Fletcher made 69 not out in Zimbabwe's 239 for six before taking four wickets for 42 runs.

 

West Indies were firm favourites to make it three straight World Cup final wins in the 1983 climax against India, the 66-1 pre-tournament outsiders, and were in charge at 50 for one after bowling out their opponents for 183.

 

But medium-pace bowling, exemplified by Madan Lal's three for 12, saw India to a 43 run-win, igniting the country's passion for one-day cricket which now powers the financial motor of the world game.

 

In 1996, Kenya thrashed West Indies by 73 runs in Pune - having made a seemingly meagre 166.

 

Off-spinner Maurice Odumbe and seamer Rajab Ali both took three wickets as Kenya notched up its first win in a full one-day international.

 

Perhaps the most controversial World Cup upset came three years later when Bangladesh beat Pakistan in Northampton as the tournament returned to England.

 

In a game that has been the subject of match-fixing speculation ever since, Bangladesh scored 223 after Pakistan quicks Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar had managed just three wickets between them.

 

New-ball bowler Khaled Mahmud then took three for 31 as Bangladesh bowled out Pakistan for 161 and a 61-run victory.

 

Four years later, however, Bangladesh found itself in the unusual position of being an upset victim when the amateurs of Canada defeated them by 60 runs in Durban after pace bowler Austin Codrington had taken five for 27.

 

Much was made during the 2003 tournament of Kenya's advance to the semi-finals on the back of New Zealand's refusal to play in Nairobi, the capital, because of security worries.

 

But they wouldn't have made it to the last four without beating Sri Lanka, the 1996 champions, by 53 runs in Nairobi.

 

Kenya's 210 for nine featured 60 from opener Kennedy Otieno but it was his brother, Collins Obuya, who made headlines with five for 24.

 

Ireland now play the West Indies - whom they beat in 1969 for one of the most celebrated victories in their history - knowing they are on the brink of qualifying for the Super Eights after an opening match tie against Zimbabwe.

 

"We will give it 100-percent and be very competitive," said Ireland captain Trent Johnston.

 

The hosts have been warned.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)