Cricket World Cup 2007

**dancinpants** · 15/03/2007, 9:37 PM

Jaysus what a match!!!

**OneRedArmy** · 15/03/2007, 9:37 PM

Well done Ireland. Absolutely enthralling.

Best late nite TV since Dennis Taylor all those years ago.

**geysir** · 15/03/2007, 9:38 PM

3rd tie in history.
Is a draw good?

**pete** · 15/03/2007, 9:38 PM

Ireland would have won if Matsikenyeri did not start on last wicket.

2nd last ball overhead ball was dropped & almost a run out.
Last ball Matsikenyeri bowled.

Wow!

**strangeirish** · 15/03/2007, 9:39 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

3rd tie in history.
Is a draw good?

If you're Stan!

**Jerry The Saint** · 15/03/2007, 9:39 PM

Ha-ha. All bets void. Crazy stuff.

3rd tie in WC history - but we still had one wicket left so we should claim the all-important moral victory!

**R�iteoir** · 15/03/2007, 9:40 PM

it still gives them a slight chance of making it out of the group.

Better than a loss though - and makes for enthralling cricket

**Sheridan** · 15/03/2007, 9:41 PM

Tie is better than nothing. Should have won the game but for the clowning in the field.

**razor** · 15/03/2007, 9:44 PM

I'm wrecked, what a finish, a bit disappointed we didn't win it to be honest but could have easily lost it too.
Irish crowd impressing everyone

**crc** · 15/03/2007, 9:45 PM

wow - unbelievable!

I'd love to have seen it on TV, but the BBC updates had to suffice.

**dancinpants** · 15/03/2007, 9:48 PM

Originally Posted by crc

wow - unbelievable!

I'd love to have seen it on TV, but the BBC updates had to suffice.

The updates were quite good actually, bit of humour to them.

**pete** · 15/03/2007, 9:49 PM

5 wickets for last 10 runs. Zimbabwe tail order got really nervous when they should have had gone for broke.

Ireland had one chance at Rainford but he got a lucky run to let Matsikenyeri back in.

What chance Ireland picking up some points due to rain.

**geysir** · 15/03/2007, 9:49 PM

Oh I see we have to play the West Indies and Pakistan, that sounds bad.

**geysir** · 15/03/2007, 9:52 PM

That 2nd last batman was a nervous wreck, do you think he got himself run out on purpose?

**Sheridan** · 15/03/2007, 9:54 PM

Ireland bowled horribly (well, innocuously), by the way. One legitimate wicket in the match (i.e., one that owed more to the bowler than the batsmen.)

Bit embarrassing that the three Irish interviewees afterwards were two Aussies and the Seth Effrikan. What must people think.

**Jerry The Saint** · 15/03/2007, 9:55 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

That 2nd last batman was a nervous wreck, do you think he got himself run out on purpose?

Yep, defo. Had to leave the good batsman on strike.

Bray deservedly man of the match. Owes it all to Eddie Gormley's coaching.

**Sheridan** · 15/03/2007, 10:01 PM

Jaysus, Martin Williamson (who wrote an infuriating Plucky-Irish-damning-with-faint-praise account of the defeat to England at Stormont) described IRL-ZIM as follows on Cricinfo:

Zimbabwe tied with Ireland in one of the greatest World Cup matches ever, the match at Sabina Park producing some of the most pulsating, enthralling cricket you could ever ask for. Zimbabwe will wonder how they threw away an almost certain victory, but while the points are shared, the day belonged to the Irish, and the body language as Ed Rainsford was run-out off the final ball going for the winning single could not have been more contrasting.

Steady on...

Someone jumped the gun captioning the accompanying photo:

Jeremy Bray reaches his outstanding hundred ... but it was in a losing cause

**OneRedArmy** · 15/03/2007, 10:14 PM

Sheridan the bowling certainly didn't sparkle, but it was consistently economical and very disciplined, which always stopped Zimbabwe every time they threatened to pull away.

The fielding was really, really poor though. Half a dozen clangers and a few more that they really should have got. Also, we looked slow to cover the ground.

But the nerves must have been huge and Pakistan is a no-lose game. Paddy's Day, a presumably almost full ground and a cracking atmosphere guaranteed.

**Sheridan** · 15/03/2007, 10:26 PM

It was indeed disciplined, but few of the bowlers carried a genuine wicket threat. They'll need to improve immeasurably before playing the big boys, because West Indian and Pakistani batsmen won't fall on their swords the way Zimbabwe did. Looks like we're falling victim to the English syndrome of picking bowlers for their batting ability (not that we're awash with options; I guess one of the Mooney brothers could come in for Kevin O'Brien or White, but the former has a big ODI hundred to his name and the latter batted well today.)

I really don't know what was up with the fielding. Nerves I guess. Excusable I suppose, but they've had long enough to get it right. It seems that all three departments (batting, bowling, fielding) can fire in isolation, but never in concert.

Some match though. What proper sport is all about.