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March 15, 2007 (Link to Scorecard)

The clash between the two minnows - Zimbabwe and Ireland has ended in a dramatic tie at the Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica. Ireland would be the happier of the two sides as this was only their first match ever in a World Cup and they managed to force Zimbabwe, a more experienced side to share the honours.

Ireland will the happier of the two sides for the way they fought their way back into this Group D match for more than one time. Having been put into bat first by Prosper Utseya, they were down in the dumps at 89 for 5. But one man was still standing tall for them, it was opening batsman Jeremy Bray who carried his bat through to help his side post a competitive 221 for 9. A former New South Wales' Cricketer, the 33-year-old left handed Bray scored an unbeaten 115 from 137 balls with as many as 10 fours and two sixes.

The Zimbabweans choked under pressure in their chase of a moderate total. This match became the third one to be tied in the World Cup history despite an unbeaten half century from Stuart Matsikenyeri (73 from 76 with 9 fours and a six). At the top, opener Vusimuzi Sibanda scored 67 with 9 fours but Ireland kept on chipping away at the wickets. The last five wickets for Zimbabwe fell in a heap at the addition of just 18 runs in the space of 38 balls. Their collapse began when Brendan Taylor, their wicket keeper batsman was dismissed after a useful 24 which featured in a near match winning partnership of 70 runs with Matsikenyeri. The Zims required 9 to win from the last over with Matsikenyeri still there but they had just the one wicket. It became 4 from 3 balls to become Zimbabwe's match and then became just 1 from 1. Ireland picked up a wicket that of no.11 Edward Rainsford in that last ball and the rest was history! But before that it was the fault of Matsikenyeri, the best bat for Zim today, who missed to put bat to ball to a White delivery and there was a desperate attempt to go for an unrealistic bye and the non striker who was off his blocks was run out! Jeremy Bray picked up the Man of the Match deservingly.

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