Sensational result as Ireland beat England at cricket world cup -- biggest upset in history of the game say experts
Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2011 at 03:22 PM
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In the annals of Irish sporting victories it is the most unlikely ever.
Beating England at cricket is the equivalent of Ireland beating the Yankees, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter etc. at baseball.
Yet Ireland have pulled of an incredible miracle in the cricket World Cup in Bangalore.
How much were they the outsiders?
Well bookmakers had them at 150-1 after England had batted first and ran up -- well a cricket score of 327 runs.
Ireland has fifty overs or innings to surpass that total, an unheard of accomplishment.
No one in the history of the cricket World Cup had ever overcome such a deficit.
And for Ireland to do it over England, who had just recently beat Australia for the Ashes, perhaps the major trophy in cricket, was entirely absurd.
That was before a cricketer called Kevin O'Brien who no one had ever heard of hit the fastest century in the history of the world cup. He hit all around him and the English could simply not cope.
Suddenly Ireland were in with a shout and as the game drew to a close they surpassed the English total.
Cue a celebration that was as wild as it was unexpected.
Irish Prime minister -elect Enda Kenny showed what the victory meant to the beleaguered country.
"Ireland's victory marks one of the finest days in Irish sport, and my warmest congratulations go out to each and every member of the squad after this historic win.
"Their supreme effort will lift the spirits of every single Irish person, no matter where they are in the world. Ireland's performance is truly inspiring, demonstrating that, with self-belief, the apparently impossible can be made possible, and that real change can occur."
Amazing.
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sirpeter | Mar 03, 2011, 07:16 PM EST
ha ha..That's like England beating Ireland at hurling and to make it even better.Its a team of postmen, carpenters and electricians who only play cricket part time and we beat a team of professionals who are one of the favorites to win the world cup. We also smashed 2 records that day: fastest century in world cup and biggest run chase in world cup! 2 records that would be in the newspapers and painted on ever wall in England had they did it.LMAO!!
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DrTrelawney | Mar 03, 2011, 11:22 AM EST
You dpn't have to clarify anything for me Mairead. It is perfectly clear.
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maireadinmelb | Mar 03, 2011, 06:00 AM EST
Well said wizard of Oz and to clarify for you Dr Trelawney, there are 6 balls in an over and 50 overs in an innings, so Ireland who had to get 328 in 50 overs or one innings that was a great effort!! Cant help it that irish and american journalists dont understand the game!! But for us Irish-Aussies who had the ashes loss this summer this was a great victory!
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krisdaly | Mar 03, 2011, 02:45 AM EST
Since the British Special Air Service branch was successful in the second World War because of an Irishman by the name of Paddy Mayne I am not surprised!!!!!!!!
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antoman | Mar 02, 2011, 08:46 PM EST
Cricket?Not my cup of tea old chap.
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DrTrelawney | Mar 02, 2011, 08:10 PM EST
"Ireland has fifty overs or innings to surpass that total" Sorry what does this mean? An over is six balls. It is not in any way equivalent to an innings. What the hell are you talking about?
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DrTrelawney | Mar 02, 2011, 08:07 PM EST
It was a tremendous victory. Kevin O'Brien's innings -- featuring the fastest century in World Cup history -- was one of the best one-day knocks I've ever seen. The real wonder was that, at one stage, they were 111 for five. It was probably as well that Eoin Morgan was injured.
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wizardofoz | Mar 02, 2011, 08:02 PM EST
“A Foreign Game?” Your ignorance precedes you sir! There are but two sporting events in Ireland in which the teams representing Ireland are picked from both the north and south of Ireland. One is rugby union, and the other is cricket. Crawl back in your narrow little hole from whence you slithered. The magnitude of this win cannot be over stated. Well done Ireland!
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Gearoid4 | Mar 02, 2011, 07:27 PM EST
It wasn't Cricket, old chap. It might might have been rounders or softball Carruthers, as our chaps put up a jolly bad show. What do you say, Jacers?
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LoyalCitizen | Mar 02, 2011, 06:33 PM EST
@jacersagain: Soccer is a foreign game.
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jacersagain | Mar 02, 2011, 05:12 PM EST
LoyalCitizen... they're playing a foreign game! Did ya see that the only Irish supporters there were family members? But I agree.. it's a fantastic result, one up d'oul enemy's snobby snotty noses. Best of luck to the Irish lads in the next round of the World Cup. Well done, Irish Lads.
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LoyalCitizen | Mar 02, 2011, 04:58 PM EST
I have seen a few reports on the internet about the team. They are getting better and better all the time. Best of luck to them.
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