By Vadiraj Kanakagiri

It was 2007 and it was the world cup. The Irish were a nobody in international cricket. They were young and exciting and full of enthusiasm. They were up against a strong Pakistan team full of stars. And they rolled them over. The Irish had done the unthinkable.

Now though, things have changed. Ireland is no longer minnows. They are a full member nation now. Although they are nowhere near the quality of what Pakistan had in 2007, they are pretty good. Now one expects them to win games against associates quite easily. But it was Namibia's day yesterday. Now that the Irish are thrown out of the comp, they must know a little bit of how the Pakistanis must have felt back in the day.

And the Irish were given a proper beating. It wasn't like Namibians pulled this out of nowhere. They had the upper hand throughout the game, except maybe for the power plays. For all the talk about winning the power play is almost like winning the game at Sharjah, Namibia did the exact opposite. They lost both the power plays and still won the game.

Opting to bat, the Irish had a wonderful start with 55 on the board in the first six without losing any. But as is the story at Sharjah, it became very difficult to score once the fielders were out and the ball got softer. The game took the usual narrative that takes place at Sharjah, with the Irish managing just 70 off their last 14 overs. That's it. Just 70.

They just couldn't get going again once they slowed down. Or, should be said, they weren't allowed to, thanks to some excellent medium-pace bowling. Jan Frylinck in particular tormented the Irish with his off cutters and slower ones from around the wicket. He picked up three wickets in the middle overs and broke the back of the middle order. David Weise too used his experience to full effect and didn't allow for boundaries to be leaked at the death. Lack of big hitters was evident in this innings from the Irish, that when it's hard to get ones and twos, you need someone to clear the ropes consistently.

Even after having to defend an under-par score of 125, the Irish bowlers were confident given how hard it was to score for them. And it was evident in the power play itself.  The Irish bowlers were impeccable in their lines and lengths and never allowed the Namibians openers to get away to a flying start.

At the end of the first 6, the Irish bowlers had reduced the score to just 27 for 1. They did what they had to do. They had won the power play with the ball as well. Everything was going according to plan. One started to think, if these batters aren't able to score quickly when the field is up, it's almost impossible for them to catch up later when the ball is soft and the field is out.

Skipper Gerhard Erasmus and opener Zane green were chewing up deliveries in the middle overs. The required rate was climbing up over 8 which started at a bit over 6. The game was following a similar suit to what was predicted. But David Weise, the T20 superstar, was waiting in the wings for his turn to bat. And even though the Irish were ahead in the game, they were wary of this man.

When Zane Green ended his rather struggling stay at the crease after making 24 from 32, it was a blessing in disguise for the Namibians. Because it brought David Weise to the crease.

And once he arrived in the middle, the game took an absolute U-turn in its flow. He didn't waste any time to get going, as he did in his match-winning innings in the previous encounter. He smoked two sixes off only the 4th and 5th deliveries he faced and showed everyone how it's done here. Skipper Erasmus, who himself was struggling at the other end, seemed to have got his wings back watching this hitting from Weise.

He too started to up the ante and played some exquisite strokes. His six off Simi Singh in the eighteenth over, was right out of the MCC coaching manual. He held the pose for a little while too, maybe to frame this photo and tell his grandchildren about it. The game was almost sealed by now. The pair hit a boundary each in the next over and finished this historical chase and Erasmus couldn't control his tears of Joy.

It was enthralling and heartwarming to see the celebrations in the Namibian camp. From where they were to where they are now, it really is a story to be told for many years to follow. And David Weise almost single-handedly carried the hopes of the entire Namibian nation through to the super 12.

For the Irish though, it was a heartbreak. Hailed as a top team among the associates, they were expected to make it through to super 12s quite easily. Maybe the expectations are what got the better of them.