Cricket World Cup upsets: five of the best

Ireland produced the first upset of this year's World Cup with a four-wicket victory over Test-playing nation West Indies at the Saxton Oval in Nelson.

Ireland are no strangers to pulling off surprises in the sport’s premier global event, here are some other World Cup matches which did not go to form.

Ireland beat England by three wickets, Bangalore, March 2011

Arguably the biggest shock in the competition’s history, especially with regards to the match situation. Chasing a victory target of 328, Ireland stumbled to 111 for five in the 25th over and seemed on course for a heavy defeat, but Kevin O’Brien had other ideas. The burly all-rounder batted like a man possessed, scoring the fastest World Cup century, and his 113 off 63 balls almost single-handedly got his side over the line.

Ireland beat Pakistan by three wickets, Kingston, March 2007

Four years earlier, it was O’Brien’s older brother Niall who came to the fore as Ireland created shockwaves in just their second World Cup match. Having held their own with a thrilling tie against Zimbabwe, they dismissed Pakistan for 132 before Niall O’Brien’s 72 helped set up a famous victory. Ireland would go on to beat Bangladesh in the Super Eight stage in another upset win.

Kenya beat Sri Lanka by 53 runs, Nairobi, February 2003

Co-hosts Kenya proved they were not just there to make up the numbers in 2003 and beating Sri Lanka was possibly the highlight of their march to the semi-finals, an unthinkable prospect 12 years later. Kennedy Otieno top-scored with 60 in a moderate total of 210 for nine for the Kenyans, who seemed on course for defeat when Sri Lanka reached 71 for two. But Collins Obuya changed the course of the match, the leg-spinner ripping the heart out of the Sri Lankan middle order with career-best figures of five for 24 to cap an impressive win.

Zimbabwe beat South Africa by 48 runs, Chelmsford, May 1999

Zimbabwe had never beaten their African rivals in a one-day international before — and have only had one win in 29 matches since their day of triumph in south-east England. The writing was on the wall for the Proteas as they fell to 40 for six, chasing 234 for victory, and even counter-attacking half-centuries from Shaun Pollock and Lance Klusener down the order could not reverse the tide. Zimbabwe had earlier shocked India at Grace Road.

Zimbabwe beat Australia by 13 runs, Nottingham, June 1983

Playing their first official ODI, Zimbabwe were given next to no hope against an Australia side that contained Allan Border, Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson. But skipper Duncan Fletcher's fantastic all-round display heralded a surprise result. The future coach of England, now of India, top scored with an unbeaten 69 in his team's competitive 239 for six before taking four wickets as Australia fell short.