Tony Becca, Contributing Editor

Irish players celebrate the fall of another Pakistan wicket on their way to a shock World Cup victory at Sabina Park yesterday. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

THE IRISH cricket flag with its shamrock emblem fluttered proudly at Sabina Park yesterday and Irish men and women, in their green shirts, blouses, hats and caps cheered and danced from the first over and, most importantly, Irish eyes smiled all day - in the sunshine, and then in the fading light.

Although it was St. Patrick?s Day,the joy had nothing to do with their patron saint and their celebration of Ireland?s National Day. It was a reaction to their greatest ever performance on a cricket field.

After their brilliant recovery on Thursday when they picked up five wickets while conceding only 18 runs in 6.4 overs to tie the match against Zimbabwe, Ireland, the land of Danny Boy fame, produced the first real shocker in World Cup 2007 when, in only their second match at this level, they defeated Pakistan on the Duckworth/Lewis rule and in the process knocked them out of the competition.

Easy victory

Bowling first after winning the toss and sending Pakistan to bat on a pitch green with grass, Ireland, led by pacers William Rankin with three for 32 off nine overs and Andre Botha with two for five off eight overs, shot out the vaunted Pakistan for 132 in 45.4 overs and then, after bad light and rain had intervened with the scoreboard reading 81 for four off 27.3 overs, after they were set a revised target of 128 in 47 overs, fought their way to a comfortable if not an easy victory with three wickets in hand and 5.2 overs to spare.

The Man of the Match, the champion of Ireland for the day, was Niall O?Brien - the wicketkeeper who set the pace by sharing in the first wicket of the day, the batsman who, going to bat at 15 for two in the sixth over, scored 72 before being stumped at 108 for five in the 34th over after batting for 142 minutes, facing 107 deliveries, stroking six fours and hitting one six.

In winning the match, Ireland not only dismissed Pakistan for their second lowest total in the World Cup, not only ended their hopes of coming out of the first round and their dream of winning the Cup, but in doing so, and after the tie on Thursday, they have, in their first outing, left themselves a good chance of crashing the party and going into the Super Eight round.

With three matches to go in the first round, with the West Indies to play Zimbabwe and Ireland and Pakistan to play Zimbabwe, with the West Indies defeating Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Ireland playing to a tie, and Ireland defeating Pakistan, it means that Pakistan cannot progress regardless of the result of their third and final match of the round match.

It also means, however, that if the West Indies and Pakistan defeat Zimbabwe, as they should, then regardless of what happens in their match against the West Indies, Ireland, even if they fail to produce another shocker, will accompany the West Indies into round two.

With Mohammad Hafeez easing his left-foot down the pitch and driving the second delivery of the innings confidently to the long-off boundary, Ireland looked set for a day of leather-hunting - and that impression did not change even when Hafeez, on four and moving across his wicket, edged the last delivery of David Langford-Smith?s opening over to wicketkeeper Niall O?Brien and when Younis Khan, on zero and copying Hafeez, edged Rankin to Botha at second slip and departed the scene at 15 for two in the fourth over.

And with Mohammad Yousuf leaning forward and driving Rankin to the extra-cover boundary, with Nazir rocking back and pulling Rankin to the wide long-on boundary and with Pakistan chipping past the first 50 in the 12th over, that impression did not change for a while.

In trouble

In fact, Pakistan did not look in trouble until just after the hour mark when, in 43 minutes and 7.4 overs and starting with Yousuf, they lost four wickets for 16 runs as they skidded to 72 for six in the 21st over.

Pakistan, cornered by some accurate bowling and surrounded by some brilliant fielding, including captain Trent Johnston?s amazing catch at mid-on, never did recover. In fact, but for the gift of 24 wides, 14 by Rankin, they really would have been embarrassed.

Going to bat with an upset beckoning, Ireland were always in front until with the scores level and one run to win, captain Johnston smashed pacer Mahmood over the long-on boundary for a six to set off a memorable celebration with the Irish players jogging around the ground and waving to their jubilant, flag-waving supporters in the stands.