World Cup Highlights: O'Brien fireworks give Ireland their most famous win

Usually, when a Full Member team scores 327 runs against an Associate team in a World Cup, you switch off the television, allow yourself a nap while occassionaly looking through drowsy eyes at the score. But anyone who did any of that on 2 March, 2011 would have regretted their decision. Ireland were set a daunting target of 328 runs by their bigger, badder neighbours England - and incredibly chased it down. [caption id=“attachment_2091363” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Kevin O’Brien was the hero that day, scoring 113 runs off just 63 balls (13x4, 6x6). Reuters[/caption] Kevin O’Brien was the hero that day, scoring 113 runs off just 63 balls (13x4, 6x6), with vital contributions from Alex Cusack (47 off 58), John Mooney (33 off 30), Paul Stirling (32 off 28), Ed Joyce (32 off 61) and Niall O’Brien (29 off 36). England also gave away 33 extras, including 12 wides (Ireland bowled 20 wides). England’s top-order clicked that day, with Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell all scoring at a brisk pace, with Trott and Bell getting close to centuries with scores of 92 and 81 respectively. What made Ireland’s chase really special is how they turned it around after 25 overs. At the halfway stage of their innings, Ireland were teetering at 111 for 5. Even their loyalest supporter would have written them off. There was one believer left though. Pink-haired Kevin O’Brien took to the crease in the 23rd over and needed just 50 balls to score the World Cup’s fastest century and set his country on the road to their biggest win in cricket. If O’Brien was the destroyer at one end, Cusack deftly managed strike at the other in making a composed 47. The pair added 162 runs in a partnership that snatched the match away from England. It was nervy at the end. O’Brien departed in the penultimate over, leaving Trent Johnston and John Mooney to take Ireland past the finishing line. Mooney’s shot through midwicket brought the victory and triggered celebrations all across Ireland. “It’s the best I’ve ever played. Everything just came off. I had a bit of luck and just kept going,” O’Brien said after the game.