Cricket: Ireland made the number-one team in world cricket fight hard for victory yesterday when a controversial rain-affected match against South Africa ended in defeat. As they walked from the pitch in near darkness, the relief on the victors' faces told its own story.
It was a game in which the weather, and the statisticians, did Ireland few favours. Their batsmen were disadvantaged in that their first 11 overs took place under heavy cloud in the expectation of a 50-over game. Their scoring rate reflected this. They reached 23 for 1 before the game was shortened.
In these situations, the Duckworth-Lewis method is designed to compensate teams for runs lost to rain. But the D/L method added only 7 runs to Ireland's total of 152 for 8, meaning South Africa were left to chase 160 to win. They reached it in the 32nd over.
The toss was ever more critical to Ireland's chances. It went against them, and they were asked to bat as the rain clouds gathered over Georgetown's Providence National Stadium.
It was a stop-start sort of morning, with players running off the pitch at regular intervals chased by the ground staff pulling on the covers in their bright-yellow, waterproof overalls.
Since Ireland beat Pakistan on a green pitch in Jamaica, the wickets have been of an altogether different type. This one had a shine to it and was so hard the sound of the players' spikes was audible from the sidelines.
Before the game, South Africa coach Mickey Arthur talked of their plan to target two batsmen and two bowlers on the Ireland team. There is little doubt Jeremy Bray was number one on that list. Since his innings of 115 against Zimbabwe, Bray's every shot has been downloaded on to the laptops now routinely carried by the world's top bowlers. He was pinned on the crease by Shaun Pollock, out lbw, in a miserly opening spell of seven overs for 17 runs.
Eoin Morgan and Niall O'Brien moved the innings along, a partnership marked by flicks to leg and sweetly timed off drives by both left-handers. Morgan went, shocked by a short ball from Andrew Hall, caught at midwicket, and was followed soon after by O'Brien.
Andrew White was promoted up the order following some enterprising innings in earlier games, a move designed to add some zip to the middle order. He survived a close lbw call before going on to improvise 30 off 30 balls.
He went lamely, shunting a full toss from the part-time off spin of South Africa captain Graeme Smith to mid-on. He was followed quickly to the dressing-room by Andre Botha, the South African-born left-hander trudging off sadly, his hopes of a big performance against his former compatriots dashed.
Paul Mooney was out first ball, a fate that had also befallen his brother John in the game against West Indies.
As ever, Trent Johnston came in late on to good effect, raising the question of why he doesn't fit in the top six, particularly in what had become a 35-over slog. With three overs left, he had faced just four balls.
His partner Dave Langford Smith launched Hall into the stand for six before Johnston followed suit, hitting a mighty blow over Ntini at long off.
As he has done throughout the tournament, Boyd Rankin made an early breakthrough, this time removing the in-form AB DeVilliers in his first over, caught at backward point by William Porterfield. He followed this up with the prized wicket of Herschelle Gibbs.
Johnston took an extraordinary catch off his own bowling to remove Graeme Smith. Such feats of athleticism are becoming routine.
But two further chances, one to Rankin off his own bowling and another by Johnston off McCallan's off spin, failed to stick.
Yet to put South Africa under such pressure was a great effort.
These Ireland players continue to acquit themselves well against high-class opposition, punching above their weight and demanding they be taken seriously. Another win in this tournament remains a possibility.
