Six Great Upsets At The Cricket World Cup

The Netherlands defeated South Africa by 38 runs at the Cricket World Cup on Tuesday, beating a Test-playing nation at the tournament for the first time.AFP Sports looks at six other stunning wins in

Ireland beat Pakistan by 3 wkts (D/L method), Kingston, March 17, 2007

Ireland marked St Patrick's Day in style by knocking Pakistan out of the 2007 World Cup in Jamaica.

The Irish attack skittled out the Asian giants for just 132, with future England paceman Boyd Rankin taking three wickets.

Ireland suffered a collapse of their own before Kevin O'Brien and Trent Johnston saw them to victory.

But there was a grim postscript to the match when Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, the former England batsman, died in his hotel room that night.

Ireland beat England by 3 wkts, Bengaluru, March 2, 2011

England piled up a seemingly imposing 327 for eight, with Jonathan Trott making 92 and Ian Bell 81 although John Mooney's four-wicket haul prevented a larger total.

In reply, Ireland lost skipper William Porterfield before they'd scored a run but Kevin O'Brien seized his chance to shine by smashing a World Cup hundred off just 50 balls, with 13 fours and six sixes.

After he was out, Mooney's 33 not out sealed a stunning win with five balls to spare.

Afghanistan beat England by 69 runs, New Delhi, 15 October, 2023

Afghanistan recovered from a mid-innings wobble to post 284, with opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz's dashing 80 setting the platform against a wayward England attack before wicketkeeper Ikram Alikhil added a vital 58.

Defending champions England lost wickets regularly as they floundered against Afghanistan's spinners, with Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi doing most of the damage on a turning track.

Once Harry Brook fell for 66, only some late England fireworks prevented a bigger margin of defeat as Afghanistan snapped a 14-match World Cup losing streak.