In every ICC cricket World Cup, the one interest for all the cricket fans is to observe how the associates or the non-test playing nations are performing. And everyone absolutely loves when one of those so-called minnows could punch above their weight and manages to a result in their ways in the expense of some reputed names.
From Zimbabwe beating Australia in 1983, Kenya beating West Indies on the leap year day in 1996 and Bangladesh beating Pakistan in 1999, these are the incidents which are memorable for every cricket fans. The Irish cricket team announced themselves in the 2007 World Cup with a win over Pakistan which resulted in Pakistan’s ouster from the World Cup and all the surrounding controversies.
In the next four years, Ireland proved their metal and also established themselves as the undisputed top performer among the associates. They qualified for the 2011 World Cup easily and hoped for 1-2 good performances against the top teams like India, England and South Africa in their group.
On 2nd March 2011, a spirited Irish team met the old enemy England at M. Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru. In one of the most batting friendly grounds in India, England scored 327 runs for 8 wickets. There were contributions from all the top order batsmen including Strauss (34), Pietersen (59), Trott (92) and Bell (81).
Chasing 328 for an improbable win Ireland had to deal with a huge blow when the captain William Porterfield was gone the first ball. Despite some contributions from Stirling, Joyce and Niall O’Brien Ireland found themselves soon at 106 for 4 in the 23rd over. Niall’s elder brother Kevin O’Brien came to bat at six. Kevin was a part of the Ireland team since their early days and already built a reputation of a very strong hitter among the associates. But he picked that day to spread his reputation out of the associate level to the world cricket. He started pro-actively and immediately started finding gaps. Before anyone could realize he reached his fifty in 30 balls and then took just 20 more balls to reach his second ODI century in grand style. It was the fastest ever World Cup century scored in just 50 balls.
Kevin O’Brien was run out for 113 with 11 runs still required. But John Mooney completed the chase with a boundary in the first ball of the 50th over and with that Ireland’s reputation of giant killer increased a bit more.
Video: The Fastest World Cup Century ( ICC World Cup 2011 )
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