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Major shock as Pakistan dumped out

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KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Ireland pulled off one of the greatest cricket World Cup shocks of all time when they defeated mighty Pakistan by three wickets to send the 1992 champions, and one of game's superpowers, crashing out of the tournament.

Playing in their first World Cup, Ireland skittled out Pakistan for 132 before surpassing a revised target of 128 under the Duckworth Lewis system.

The win for Ireland, made up mostly of part-timers and foreign imports, was secured when skipper Trent Johnston hit a huge six off Azhar Mahmood off the fourth ball of the 43rd over at Sabina Park.

The sensational Group D victory also came on St Patrick's Day and put Ireland on course to qualify for the second round Super Eights on their debut appearance in the World Cup.

Pakistan needed to win the match after losing their opening clash to West Indies while Ireland had already picked up a point from a last-ball tie against Zimbabwe.

But Ireland triumphed after a tense finale which had seen them lose three wickets for five runs in seven balls as Pakistan threatened to pull off a great escape.

"We had a lot of confidence and knew that Pakistan would be short on confidence in the top order," said Kevin O'Brien who finished on 16 not out.

"We knew if we got a few early wickets that we would have a chance."

O'Brien's brother Niall, one of the few full-time players in the team, top-scored with a magnificent and patient 72 off 107 balls.

Earlier, Johnston won the toss and put Pakistan into bat and the decision paid rich dividends as Inzamam-ul-Haq's side were dismissed for 132 in 45.4 overs.

Boyd Rankin was the most successful Irish bowler with three wickets for 32 runs from nine overs, Andre Botha supported with the flattering figures of 8-4-5-2, and Kyle McCallan collected two for 12 from 5.4 overs.

Only four Pakistani batsmen got into double-figures -- Kamran Akmal scored 27, Imran Nazir got 24, and Mohammad Yousuf made 15, and Mohammad Sami 12.

The Irish bowlers gained favourable bounce and movement from the hard, grassy surface, but the Pakistani batsmen were also victims of their own indiscretion and athletic fielding from their opponents.

Defeat completed a torrid episode in Pakistan's cricket history.

They arrived in the Caribbean without spearhead fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif who were injured.

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