大象传媒

On the opposite side of the crowd, the old favourite 鈥淧akistan Zindabad鈥� was trotted out my three men in dark green. Another waved a placard reading 鈥淪mile! You could be here supporting Pakistan鈥�.

Over 22,000 tickets were either sold or issued for this match but 鈥� even though India fans have been the most populous around Bridgetown this week - stories have been doing the rounds about mass cancellations and tickets available from touts at a fraction of face value.

Generally, the India fans in the crowd have supported Ireland, who knocked Pakistan out of the competition, while the few Pakistanis shouted for Bangladesh, who eliminated India.

Meanwhile, the local organising committee waited until approximately three minutes before offering free tickets to all at 11am local time to actually advertise the fact.

They were aware of a potential problem approximately three weeks earlier.

On the field of play, it was good to see Ireland鈥檚 top order firing after a difficult last three weeks.

There were leprechauns dancing in the stands as Jeremy Bray hit his first boundary since 23 March, William Porterfield completed his first half century against a Test-playing nation and when Kevin O'Brien and Trent Johnston indulged in some late-innings biffing.

Bangladesh鈥檚 spinners did not find as much assistant bowling first rather than on a baked pitch in the afternoon, as they did against England.

And Ireland鈥檚 committed running between the wickets helped keep the scoreboard moving even when there were no boundaries on offer, even though four run outs were a natural consequence.

Will Ireland鈥檚 highest World Cup score so far be enough for them to secure their second victory? Much will depend on their performance in the middle of the innings when Andre Botha - on his return from a hamstring injury 鈥� and spinner Kyle McCallan take the stage.

It could be close but I think Ireland have a slight advantage at the interval.