THE SWEATING fan hugging Mark Patterson summed up Ireland's thrilling two wicket win over the USA in Kuala Lumpur yesterday when he said: "I haven't felt like this since David O'Leary scored in the 1990 World Cup".
With Kenya expected to finish top of Group A in the ICC Trophy, it was do-or-die against the USA for the second qualifying place and at 159 for seven, Ireland were on life-support. Six-and-a-half overs left, 54 required. Enter Patterson.
The big seamer had bowled only three overs, again lacking any sort of rhythm, and had damaged his hand fielding as the USA were bowled out for 212. No-one is more optimistic about Patterson's ability with the willow than himself. "I'm an all-rounder," he told coach Mike Hendrick when denied a bat in the nets. "Yes, Patto," Hendrick replies. "A bowling all-rounder."
At the Tenaga Sports Ground, when it mattered, he surely exceeded his own expectations with two sixes and the same number of fours as Ireland stared defeat in the face and winked.
Garfield Harrison helped Patterson add 47 runs from only five overs for the eighth wicket and when his 36-year-old legs just failed to scramble a single in the penultimate over, it was left to Greg Molins to hit the winning runs.
Molins, struck for two sixes when asked to bowl the last over of the USA innings, had the look of a man who had got out of jail.
A solid bowling performance by off-spinners Neil Doak and Decker Curry - three wickets each for less than 30 - and a smooth start to the innings should have seen Ireland home at a canter, But former West Indian Test batsman Faoud Bacchus bowled for nought by Doak - took two wickets, and when Doak, himself was victim of an appalling lbw decision, the balance swung briefly towards the USA.
After celebrating at the Irish, Embassy last night, the team now take on Kenya tomorrow with the pressure off them and firmly on their African opponents. The Kenyans have looked out of form while beating the three lesser teams in Group A.
If Ireland should beat the tournament favourites, they will go, into the weaker of the two "quarter-final" groups and the Kenyans will have to beat the USA on Sunday to stay in the competition.
