IRELAND narrowly lost to Kenya by seven runs yesterday and must now contest the third place play off in the ICC Trophy for a last chance to claim a place in the 1999 World Cup finals.

So near, yet so far. A couple of lusty blows more and the hangovers this morning in Kuala Lumpur would have felt like a whack on the head by Mike Tyson wielding a cricket bat.

Instead, it was a night for discussing what might have been and holding an inquest into why Ireland threw away wickets and took unnecessary risks when the game was there for the winning. Before play resumed on the reserve day set aside the first semi final, Narasimha "Bobby" Rao, the Ireland batting coach, thought it possible to score the 216 needed to upset the tournament favourites by seeing off Martin Suji, their best bowler, and having wickets intact for a final charge.

The first aim was achieved admirably, Suji nought for 18 off six overs; but when it came to keeping their powder dry Ireland's batsmen proved as effective as someone who applies the talcum before getting out of a shower.

Andy Patterson, Angus Dunlop and Justin Benson all played shots that will haunt them should Ireland fail to qualify, and it was left to Derek Heasley to show the way with a blustery 51 off 47 balls.

Fireman Heasley lifted Kenya captain Maurice Odumbe over long off for the first of his four sixes, and then hit David Tikolo over mid wicket and out of the attack.

Odumbe later admitted that as long as Heasley was there Ireland had the game, but an outrageous stroke of bad luck ended his innings when he clipped a delivery into his boot and it ricocheted back into the stumps.

Mark Patterson, the hero against the US, had already gone, and with 20 to win off the final over Peter Gillespie failed by a couple of feet to clear the boundary on two occasions, and missed the last ball with Ireland needing eight to win.

In the absence of Alan Lewis, who should be fit for the third place play off, Ireland may consider they did well to muster 208-9 against a team that had mastered the West Indies only a year or so ago. But when coach Mike Hendrick does his analysis it will go down as an opportunity missed, a lesson learned, and further confirmation of the difference between good club players and professionals, as the Kenyans have been since 1994.

Ridiculously, Ireland could yet qualify for the World Cup finals without facing another ball. Heavy rain that fell in Kuala Lumpur last night has already ruled out play before lunch in the second semi final between Bangladesh and Scotland. Should there be no result, Bangladesh will proceed to the final on a countback of previous games.

Should there be no play in the third place final, scheduled to start on Thursday, Ireland would be deemed winners on the same rule.