Ireland Edge out UAE in Thriller at 2015 Cricket World Cup and More from Day 12

Another gripping contest between Associate nations. Another memorable Cricket World Cup spectacle. Another tirade of criticism for the International Cricket Council. 

That's essentially what Day 12 of the World Cup brought us. 

For ICC chief executive David Richardson, he just can't seem to escape his own words. 

"The World Cup itself, the premium event, without exception should be played between teams that are evenly matched and competitive," Richardson told Nagraj Gollapudi of ESPN Cricinfo in early February, while defending the governing body's contentious decision to restrict the 2019 and 2023 World Cups to just 10 teams, effectively ruling out the participation of Associate nations. 

That line has haunted Richardson ever since, with the Associates consistently proving themselves worthy of their presence at this World Cup, and, pleasingly, delivering some of the most "evenly matched" games of the tournament so far. 

On Wednesday, it was Ireland and the United Arab Emirates who did the trick again, just a day after Irish captain William Porterfield had launched a scathing attack on the ICC and its plans for exclusivity. 

Based on his team's display at the Gabba in Brisbane, he has a point. 

Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Chasing an imposing target of 279 set by the UAE, Ireland overcame a sluggish start and a middle-order wobble to reach the required total in thrilling fashion with just two wickets and four balls to spare. (You can find our match report here.)

Led by a ferocious half-century by Kevin O'Brien and a well-compiled 80 from Gary Wilson, Porterfield's men stormed to a second consecutive victory after the UAE had looked on the verge of causing an upset with their first ever World Cup win. 

Indeed, a memorable hundred for Shaiman Anwar—who was ably assisted by Amjad Javed—steered the men in black into a position of dominance following a top-order stumble. And when Mohammad Tauqir and Manjula Guruge stifled the Irish to restrict them to 97 for four after 25 overs, a landmark day felt on the cards for the UAE.

But Ireland, who have now completed four of the 10 highest successful chases in World Cup history, produced a late onslaught to not only deny the UAE in a thrilling affair, but to also provide a massive boost to their chances for progression into the quarter-finals. 

Ed Joyce and the Luck of the Irish

There's still a lot of ambiguity surrounding the phrase, "the luck of the Irish." Some interpretations insist that it's ironic—that it refers to bad luck, not good luck. Others point towards an optimistic outlook held by the Irish in trying circumstances. 

But whatever the phrase's meaning is, it was being said all over the cricketing world on Wednesday when Ireland batsman Ed Joyce experienced a moment of truly spectacular luck. 

Facing up to Javed, the left-hander played and missed, seeing the ball clip the off-stump and triggering the LED lights in the stumps and bails. 

Somehow, however, the right bail, after rising from its groove, came back down and landed in place, affording Joyce a remarkable reprieve. 

Shaiman Anwar Becomes UAE's 1st World Cup Centurion 

At 78 for four, and then later at 125 for five, the UAE's hopes of setting a strong first-innings total had suddenly looked bleak after a bright opening partnership between Amjad Ali and Andri Berenger. 

Enter Anwar. 

Despite never registering a score of more than 67 at this level, the 35-year-old sparkled in the final 20 overs for his side. 

First alongside Khurram Khan and then aided by Javed, the right-hander crashed 10 fours and one six on his way to a stunning 106 from just 83 deliveries. 

Impressively comfortable on the back foot on a bouncy Brisbane surface, the number six scored his runs all around the ground (you can see his wagon wheel here) and launched a colossal blow off George Dockrell deep into the stand over mid-wicket. 

Inside-out strikes over cover and mid-off were also a feature of his innings, with his outstanding performance propelling the UAE to the nation's third highest score in one-day international cricket. 

Shot of the Day

This O'Brien special was undoubtedly the day's best:

Catch of the Day 

O'Brien's catch to dismiss Krishna Chandran (also known as Krishna Karate) wasn't exactly spectacular, but his reaction was a memorable one:

Pool B Standings 

TEAMS	MAT	WON	LOST	TIED	N/R	PTS	NET RR
India	2	2	0	0	0	4	+2.060
West Indies	3	2	1	0	0	4	+1.339
Ireland	2	2	0	0	0	4	+0.338
South Africa	2	1	1	0	0	2	-0.680
Zimbabwe	3	1	2	0	0	2	-0.827
United Arab Emirates	2	0	2	0	0	0	-0.175
Pakistan	2	0	2	0	0	0	-2.260

Reaction

"

The problem with cricket World Cups isn't the number of teams: it's that Ireland's first and second games were nine days apart

— Ian Prior (@ianprior) February 25, 2015"

Thursday's Schedule

Thursday at the World Cup will serve up a Pool A double-header.

At the University Oval in Dunedin, Afghanistan will take on Scotland in a must-win encounter for both sides, while Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will do battle at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with both teams currently well placed in their group.