KEY POINTS:
They keep on copping it in the media, but the so-called minnows of world cricket continue to enjoy the occasional giggle at their more established rivals' expense, as recent events in the Caribbean have shown.
Ireland's jaw-dropping win over Pakistan and Bangladesh's shock result over India will go down history as two of the game's most surprising results, and developments that will undoubtedly be felt for the remainder of the 2007 World Cup tournament.
However, if ODI cricket has demonstrated anything over the past 30 years it's that nothing is really guaranteed when it comes to a limited overs shootout, and that - no matter what their reputation - some teams will always fall foul of complacency and over-confidence. Take the following 10 upsets:
1 Sri Lanka beat India by 47 runs, Manchester, 1979 World Cup
This is one you don't see too often in the lists of great upsets, maybe because it took two days to finish after rain at the end of the Sri Lankan innings. Still three years from gaining full test status, the Sri Lankans post 238 for five after half-centuries to Siddath Wettimuny, Duleep Mendis and Roy Dias but then have to wait until the following day to begin their defence. When the elements relent, India are coasting at 119 for two before losing their last eight wickets for 72 runs.
2 New Zealand beat the West Indies by 1 wicket, Christchurch, 1980
Another forgotten upset, this was the result that started New Zealand's one-day momentum through the early 1980s; a stunning boilover against the two-times World Cup champions. Having restricted a West Indian batting line-up containing the likes of Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Alvin Kallicharran, Lawrence Rowe and Clive Lloyd to 203 for seven, New Zealand initially looked out of contention after slumping to 56 for four, and 80 for six. But Jeremy Coney, with an unbeaten half-century, Richard Hadlee and Warren Lees ensured the tail would wag, even against a pace battery of Michael Holding, Colin Croft and Joel Garner. The winning runs arrived with two balls to spare.
3 Zimbabwe beat Australia by 13 runs, Nottingham, 1983 World Cup
Probably the daddy of them all, until Australia conspired to drop an ODI against Bangladesh during the 2005 NatWest Series. Disbelieving fans at Trent Bridge watched as Zimbabwe, still nine years shy of test status and playing in their first official ODI, beat a side led by Kim Hughes and including Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson and Allan Border. The match marked a career high for Zimbabwe all-rounder - and now England coach - Duncan Fletcher, who made 69 in his team's total of 239 for six, and then took four for 42 as Australia were dismissed for 226.
4 India beat West Indies by 43 runs, Lord's, 1983 World Cup final
What a tournament for upsets. Not content with Zimbabwe's triumph over Australia, or Sri Lanka's slightly less surprising win over New Zealand, the 1983 World Cup then provided its crowning glory, an against-the-odds win for India over perennial champions the West Indies. Never viewed as much of a one-day threat, India had already lost to the Windies by 66 runs during pool play, and looked unlikely victors after battling through to 183 in the first innings. But the 66-1 outsiders then dumbfounded onlookers with a commanding display in the field, applying so much pressure that the Windies star-studded batting line-up panicked and was skittled for 140.
5 Zimbabwe beat England by 9 runs, Albury, 1992 World Cup
Former New Zealand umpire Brian Aldridge was standing at one end of the 1992 World Cup's biggest upset; a result made even more unlikely after Zimbabwe were skittled for 134 by an England team that appeared the form side of the tournament. But, as so often happens, no one had bothered to factor into the equation a chicken farmer by the name of Eddo Brandes, who hooped the ball around to grab four for 21. England, not exactly the crowd favourite at the New South Wales' venue, were jeered as they slumped to 43 for five, and - despite a desperate rearguard - could not repair the innings and were bowled out for 125.
6 Kenya beat West Indies by 73 runs, Pune, 1996 World Cup
Africa provided the next giant-killing act in the World Cup as well, after Kenya - the tournament's easy-beats going back to the days when they were known as East Africa - not only snatched a scarcely-believable win against the West Indies, but managed to stroll to the line in relative comfort. This seemed even more unlikely at the midway point of the fixture, after Kenya had folded against the pace of Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh and were bowled out for 166. But the little known Rajab Ali made the initial inroads with the new ball, including the prized scalp of Brian Lara; skipper Maurice Odumbe tied down one end with his dry off-spin, and the Windies were eventually shot out for what was then their second-lowest total in history - 93.
7 Bangladesh beat Pakistan by 62 runs, Northampton, 1999 World Cup. Northampton.
Probably the most controversial of the ODI upsets, this one has long interested the ICC anti-corruption unit and has been fingered on several occasions in connection with match-fixing allegations and illegal betting. For all that, and in the absence of any evidence, it still rates as one of Bangladesh's finest hours, particularly after they'd won just two of their previous 34 ODIs. Restricted to 223 for nine after being sent in by Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram, Bangladesh stunned the 1992 World Champions from the outset, reducing them to 45 for five. Opening bowler Khaled Mahmud captured three for 31 at the top of the innings to begin the carnage, and the spin trio of Mohammad Rafique, Minhajul Abedin and Naimur Rahman then proceeded to choke the life out of Pakistan, dismissing them for 161
8 Canada beat Bangladesh by 60 runs, Durban, 2003 World Cup
Four years later and it was Bangladesh's turn to be on the wrong side of a shock result; the emerging nation crashing to an unthinkable loss against a Canadian side comprising solely amateurs, and returning to the international fold after an absence of 24 years. Having dismissed Canada for what seemed a modest total of 180, the Bangladesh side were destroyed by a plumber named Austin Codrington, who exploited the helpful seam conditions to the full while grabbing five for 27. Bangladesh seemed on track for a win at 106 for four, but with Codrington in irrepressible form they lost their last six wickets for 14 runs and were bowled out for 120 in just 28 overs.
9 Kenya beat Sri Lanka by 53 runs, Nairobi, 2003 World Cup
This was the game that launched Kenya, already granted a forfeited result after New Zealand's refusal to play in Nairobi, into the World Cup semifinals at a time when they hadn't even qualified for full test match status. Seven years after their momentous result against the West Indies, the Kenyans pulled off the second major upset of the 2003 tournament and were able to grab a semifinals place ahead of New Zealand. The match was a red-letter day for Kennedy Otieno, who anchored his side's innings of 210 for nine with 60 at the top of the order, and leg-spinner Collins Obuya, who became a national hero after taking five for 24 during the chase. Sri Lanka eventually fell for 157 in 45 overs, and Kenya were on their way towards the final four.
10 Bangladesh beat Australia by 5 wickets, Cardiff, 2005
There have been upsets and there have been upsets, but this one - involving the best team in the world and the world champion for the past two World Cups losing to the worst side on the planet - will always take some beating. To put things in perspective, Bangladesh had won just nine of their previous 107 ODIs, and seven of those were against either Zimbabwe or non-test playing nations. But, despite losing heavily to England in their first outing of the series, Bangladesh played out of their skins against Ricky Ponting's side, restricting the favourites to 249 before commencing their most famous of all run-chases. Buoyed by a century from Mohammad Ashraful, Bangladesh ran down the target with four deliveries remaining, to the obvious embarrassment of an Australian attack headed by Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie.
