<Bz43>Double shocker: Ireland and Bangladesh humble giants
KINGSTON (Reuters) — An already eventful cricket World Cup took a dramatically unexpected turn on Saturday with two of the biggest shocks in the history of the competition.Ireland, playing in their first World Cup, defeated Pakistan to knock one of the pre-tournament favourites out of the competition.
In Port of Spain, Trinidad, another of the fancied sides, India, were humbled by a brilliant young Bangladesh team who enjoyed a deserved five-wicket victory.
India must now beat Bermuda today before facing Sri Lanka in what could be a decisive final group game next Friday to progress to the next stage.
Saturday’s drama unfolded just 24 hours after Herschelle Gibbs had set the tournament alight by becoming the first man to clobber six sixes in an over in international cricket during South Africa’s crushing 221-run win against the Netherlands.
The Irish, a largely part-time side captained by Australian-born Trent Johnston and coached by a South African, could now defy all expectations and qualify for the Super 8s alongside the sport’s biggest names.
Off the field, England’s unhappy start to the competition continued with a number of their players being fined for a breach of discipline on Friday evening following their opening defeat to New Zealand.
A team statement gave no details of the cause of the fine, or who had been punished, but witnesses said several players had been at a night-club until the early hours of the morning after the game.
Irish officials may be more forgiving of their players if they choose to celebrate their St Patrick’s Day victory in the bars of Kingston, where their victory was greeted with cheers by Jamaican fans.
Pace bowler Boyd Rankin, who will play in the English county championship for Derbyshire next season, claimed 3-32 as Ireland bowled out Pakistan for just 132 in 45.4 overs.
A stop for rain left Ireland with a revised total of 128 from 47 overs for victory and after a fine knock of 72 from Niall O’Brien they won with a huge six over mid-wicket from Johnston with 32 balls remaining.
“You don’t really expect to beat a major Test country like that but we have said all along that funny things can happen,” Irish coach Adrian Birrell told reporters. “We are a side that is capable of upsets. We’ve done it before and we drew on that belief of past experiences.”
Bangladesh, who failed to win a single game in the last World Cup in South Africa four years ago, bowled out India, beaten finalists last time, for 191 and then rattled off the target with nine balls to spare.
Left-handed opener Tamim Iqbal, three days short of his 18th birthday, hammered 51 for his maiden half-century while Mushfiqur Rahim saw Bangladesh through to victory with a cool knock of 56 not out.
“It is very hard to keep our feet on the ground right now,” said Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar.
“The boys can’t stop jumping. Today we will celebrate, and focus again from tomorrow.”
The man who served up the balls for Gibbs, Dutch leg spinner Daan van Bunge, will hope to restore some pride before heading home to an uncertain employment future.
“I’m doing a bit of club coaching, but after the tournament I’ll be looking for a job,” Van Bunge told Reuters on Saturday.
Brad Hodge, batting at number five in place of the injured Andrew Symonds, pressed his case for a place in the first choice Australia side with his maiden one-day century.
Hodge, who was twice not out in the 90s against New Zealand this year, started quietly but then accelerated to reach 123 from 89 balls with eight fours and seven sixes against a modest attack of medium-pacers.
He shared a World Cup record fourth wicket partnership of 204 with Michael Clarke, who finished on 93 from 85 balls and struck six fours and three sixes, including a lofted straight drive on to the pavilion roof in the final over.
Hodge was dropped on 71 and Clarke on 64, both hard chances in the outfield.
