Cricket enthusiasts in the Britomart Fanzone watch Ireland beat the Windies. Photo / Jason Dorday
Cricket enthusiasts in the Britomart Fanzone watch Ireland beat the Windies. Photo / Jason Dorday
Irish celebrate upset win but the Scots will have much more of an uphill battle.
Irish cricket fans were celebrating last night as their unfancied side claimed the World Cup's first big upset.
Ireland staged a strong run chase to beat the West Indies by four wickets.
The once-feared West Indies batted first in Nelson and scored a competitive 304-7 but their bowling let them down and Ireland's batting line-up proved too strong.
Ireland, ranked 12th in the world to the West Indies' eighth, managed to seal the deal in the 46th over.
The Black Caps had a game-free day before their clash with Scotland today but there was still plenty of World Cup drama.
Across the Ditch in Sydney, crowds taking in the cricket action weren't as calm and collected as Ireland's winning team.
A number of fans were involved in a brawl at a western Sydney club while watching the India-Pakistan clash, and have been advised by local police to "surrender". Four people were hospitalised with cuts and bruises.
In Dunedin, the Scotland team admitted at a press conference yesterday that a player's claimed ascent of Mt Everest was greatly exaggerated.
It was revealed that 29-year-old Iain Wardlaw thought it might be a bit of a laugh to mention the imagined excursion during a Q&A which was published on Cricket Scotland's website. His "feat" captured the media's attention and was reported widely.
But Scotland captain Preston Mommsen busted the myth yesterday. "Iain Wardlaw, well, there has been a lot of press that he has climbed Mt Everest and that indeed is not true.
Kevin O'Brien celebrates.
"When he first played for Scotland he did a little Q&A and put it there as a joke and our media manager was guilty of putting it online. The ICC have taken a liking to that and it has been published all over the world."
Scotland's real Everest will be facing New Zealand today at University Oval.
In Auckland, the match will be screened at the World Cup Fanzone. Located at Britomart's Takutai Square, almost every tournament match is being played live on the big screen.
Next Wednesday the Black Caps will be officially welcomed to Auckland, making an appearance at the Fanzone in the afternoon.
For New Zealand's Auckland matches, the Fanzone connects to a Fan Trail leading to Eden Park. The Black Caps play Australia there on Saturday, February 28.
The bug stops here ...
Can our six-legged Cricket World Cup oracle can make it three out of four correct predictions?
Cricket Cricket has so far correctly picked New Zealand to beat Sri Lanka and Australia to topple England, but got it wrong when it predicted Pakistan would beat India on Sunday.
Cricket Cricket is picking New Zealand to beat Scotland. Photo / Jason Oxenham.
Black Caps fans can rest assured knowing the chirpy critter has backed their team to beat Scotland in Dunedin today.
Cricket, which lives at Auckland's Butterfly Creek, hopped to the slice of orange with New Zealand's flag in it, predicting the Black Caps would take out their second game of the World Cup.
The insect will be making picks for all New Zealand and Australia games, and some of the other heavy-hitters from Pool B.
Court-siding
The Cricket World Cup was rocked at the weekend when police busted a betting cartel "court-siding".
Several people posing as cricket fans were caught providing information to an overseas betting syndicate during the Black Caps' win over Sri Lanka at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
It's understood one of them was using his cellphone to provide the group with information on the outcomes of deliveries bowled in the match. The broadcast of the match was slightly delayed. So gamblers overseas could make bets on what happened. Police said they had a list of people who could be linked to court-siding, and they would be watching for any suspicious behaviour.
What is court-siding? People relaying information via phone or internet to gambling syndicates to take advantage of broadcasting time delays - sometimes only a matter of seconds.
Why is it bad? It allows bookies overseas access to match information before TV coverage is broadcast in their countries, enabling a gambling advantage.
Is it illegal? Not in New Zealand. However, it is in breach of the terms of entry to matches at the Cricket World Cup. Other countries have different laws. In fact, a man faced charges at the Australian Open last year, as court-siding is now illegal in Victoria.
How do you identify it? Police say they have been "trained" to identify court-siders but won't say how. However, those likely to be under suspicion are people courtside at a game furiously texting, or calling, even sometimes on multiple smartphones, or using a laptop.
Will it occur at other games? Those caught in Christchurch have been issued trespass notices banning them from further matches and will be evicted if they attempt to enter.
