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After defeat to South Africa dented confidence slightly, Ireland took on Zimbabe in Hobart, with the two teams producing an epic encounter that was among the best in the tournament.
With the match highlighted as one Ireland had potential to win well before the tournament, fans had high expectations heading into the match and even after that defeat to South Africa the alarm clocks were set once again!

Coach Phil Simmons made just one change to the Ireland side, with Max Sorensen making way for Alex Cusack, while Zimbabwe were without influential skipper Elton Chigumbura who was ruled out through injury. Stand-in captain Brendan Taylor won the toss and asked Ireland to bat, it looked a good call as the openers struggled with the pace of the pitch early on.

Eventually Ireland made 331-8, a huge score after a nervous start, with the in-form Andrew Balbirnie scoring 97 before being run out tantalisingly close to a maiden World Cup century and Ed Joyce making 112.

Zimbabwe seemed to follow Ireland’s lead with the batting, starting nervously before settling in and making steady progress throughout the middle overs to put themselves into a strong position to win the game.

In a close match it is often the finest of margins that decide the game, and after a run out chance went the way of Zimbabwe and Brendan Taylor stood looking relieved at the crease on 96, you felt the game was slipping away from Ireland, but then the game changed on a moment of brilliance from John Mooney.

His catch, millimetres from the boundary send Taylor back to the pavilion and swayed the game towards Ireland, although there was still a lot of work to do if Ireland were to get the two points.

Catch or a 6? @Irelandcricket saw off Zimbabwe in nerve-wracking style today http://t.co/bvwfvDGpW2 pic.twitter.com/Vtyqi35Y5f

— SportsJOE.ie (@SportsJOEdotie) March 7, 2015

As the final over started, Zimbabwe would still have been favourites for the win looking at the scoreboard, but Alex Cusack had other ideas and sent Ireland fans wild as he took two wickets in the final over to finish the game off and give Ireland a five run victory.

WHAT an over from Cusack! 2 wickets in 3 balls to finish it off. @Irelandcricket win by 5 runs. #BackingGreen #IREvZIM #CWC15

— Prantik (@Hazardesque_) March 7, 2015

The final catch was taken by skipper, William Porterfield, and as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Look at what taking the winning catch meant to @purdy34 http://t.co/tM9eaxOk4V @TourismIreland #BackingGreen pic.twitter.com/qb3bAStMZa

— Cricket Ireland (@Irelandcricket) March 7, 2015

Soon as Porterfield took the catch the party started in the crowd, yet hours later people were will wondering how Ireland managed to get the win when it seemed so far away in the closing stages.

BOOOM!!!! In the words of Father Ted- Well we won, don't ask me how?!?! #BackingGreen #COYBIG #IrevsZim #IrevZim #CricketWorldCup

— Katie Dawson (@katiedawson23) March 7, 2015

You can check out the final scorecard from the match and relive the action by watching the highlights below. We’ve also got our match gallery with images from Hobart, and audio interviews from after the game.

Match highlights

Post-match interviews

Yes
Connaught