Ireland took a wicket from the final delivery of the match against Zimbabwe to force a thrilling tie at the Cricket World Cup.
Zimbabwe were coasting at 203 for five in pursuit of a target of 222 to win but the final five wickets tumbled for 18 runs off the last 38 balls.
Stuart Matsikenyeri, needing one run off the last ball of the 50th over, missed the delivery from offspinner Andrew White and No. 11 Edward Rainsford was run out at the non-striker's end.
PHOTO: AFP
Matsikenyeri, who had a life on the penultimate ball when Ireland skipper Trent Johnston put down a difficult chance, finished unbeaten on 73 from 76 balls.
Opener Jeremy Bray anchored the Irish innings with a brilliant unbeaten 115, batting through the innings in a total of 221 for nine in 50 overs. The left-hander hit 10 fours and two sixes off 137 balls.
Ireland, on their World Cup debut, celebrated the result with a lap of honor to salute the large Irish contingent, known as the "Blarney Army," that dominated the crowd.
Johnston, who took 1-32 off 10 overs, was happy with the result.
"I'm very proud of the guys," Johnston said. "We fought back there in the last eight to 10 overs and really gave ourselves a chance."
"It feels like there's 20,000 Irishmen in here today. It was like a 12th man out there. It really drove the guys on when the times were tough," he said.
The young Zimbabweans were more downbeat after the late slump denied them victory.
"We kept on losing wickets at the wrong time. That's why we ended up tying this game," captain Prosper Utseya said. "The more we play, people will start to relax and when we get into situations like this we'll be able to pull through next time."
Opener Vusi Sibanda hit a fluent 67 off 85 balls to lead the Zimbabwe pursuit. He shared a second-wicket stand of 66 with Justice Chibhabha before Ireland struck back in the mid-stages of the innings.
Sibanda was dismissed hit wicket to White as he trod on his stumps trying to push into the off side.
When Elton Chigumbura followed at 133 for five after 30 overs, the Irish were sensing a win.
But Matsikenyeri and Brendan Taylor built a stand of 70 off 81 balls which should have won it for the Africans. A stroke of Irish luck removed Taylor for 24, the non-striker out of his crease when Kyle McCallan deflected a Matsikenyeri straight drive onto the stumps.
Panic set in after that as Ireland sensed a way back and wickets tumbled.
The penultimate over, from Kevin O'Brien, was a double-wicket maiden and Zimbabwe needed nine off the last six balls with one wicket standing.
Matsikenyeri took five off the first three balls and last man Rainsford gave him back the strike with a single.
Three were needed off two balls and Matsikenyeri sliced to short third man where Johnston, with a despairing dive just failed to clutch a catch as the batsmen crossed for two.
But Matsikenyeri could not complete the job as his swing at the final ball missed and the wicket-keeper quickly relayed the ball to the bowler to effect a run out.
Sri Lanka Crush Bermuda
Bermuda's first World Cup match ended in a massive 243-run loss to Sri Lanka, yet skipper Irving Romaine said it took nothing away from a historic occasion.
"It was a big day for Bermuda cricket, walking out on that field with that support behind us is something we'll always remember," Romaine said. "The result does not matter, cricket in our country has got a big boost even though we lost the debut match."
Bermuda became the smallest country ever to play in the cricket World Cup after securing one of the five qualifying berths available to the minor cricket-playing nations.
Romaine said ever since, the players have attained almost celebrity status in a country with a population of only about 65,000.
The team was feted by Bermudan Premier, Ewart Brown before leaving the hotel on Thursday morning to take on the Sri Lankans at Queen's Park Oval.
Sri Lanka make 321 for six in 50 overs that featured two outstanding catches by Janeiro Tucker and at least three missed chances.
But Bermuda's batsmen failed to make a mark and were skittled for 78 in 24.4 overs, at one stage risking being dismissed for the lowest total in a limited-overs international.
Sri Lankan pace bowler Lasith Malinga took 3-10, narrowly missing a hat-trick after dismissing top batsman David Hemp (14) and captain Romaine with consecutive balls.
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