Ireland's win in the ICC Cricket World Cup against the West Indies; was it really a shock? After putting the Windies bowlers to task their four-wicket win caused the first major upset of the tournament.
There are some learned, hardy souls in the game, though, see the Irish win as that – a deserved Irish win and not a West Indies defeat.
Chasing 305 for vivtory against the two-time winners, the Irishmen scored 307 for six in 45.5 overs to record their fifth World Cup victory overall.
With rumours of disharmony following the omission of Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo from their squad and the boys in green having beaten Pakistan in their first World Cup in 2007 and England in the 2011 tournament, Ireland were almost considered favourites from the outset at the picturesque venue in Nelson on the south island.
Former England spinner Graeme Swann said: "This is a better victory than the one against England, that was a one-man show from Kevin O'Brien, this was a team effort, five or six people putting their hands up and delivering a world class performance."Ireland, coached by former West Indies batsman Phil Simmons, uncle of Lendl, next face fellow qualifiers UAE on February 25.
Their beaten and bruised opponents face Pakistan, in Christchurch, on February 21.
