By Richard Sydenham
KINGSTON, Jamaica, March 17 - Former champions
Pakistan were on the brink of almost certain elimination from
the World Cup when rain interrupted their Group D match with
part-timers Ireland at Sabina Park on Saturday.
Chasing just 133 to win, Ireland reached 81-4 in the 28th
over with wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien unbeaten on 54 and his
brother Kevin yet to score. Mohammad Sami had taken three of the
four wickets to fall.
If the match is abandoned because of the weather, Ireland
would win on the Duckworth-Lewis calculation which decides
abandoned one-day matches in cricket.
This was a game that 1992 champions Pakistan could not
afford to lose having lost their opener against hosts West
Indies on Tuesday, also at Sabina Park.