There are very few one-day internationals which are not covered by television these days but Ireland are bitterly regretting that their series in Zimbabwe is one of them.

When Niall O’Brien knocked down the stumps on the penultimate ball of the first match of the series, the whole Irish team were convinced that Eddie Rainsford was run out and Zimbabwe still needed two runs to win with the No 11 coming to the wicket.

But, to their horror, umpire Amish Saheba ruled it ‘not out’, the scores remained tied and Rainsford pulled Kevin O’Brien’s last ball for six into a delirious crowd at long leg.

It was the second time in three matches between the teams that the scores were tied going into the last ball but unlike the World Cup opener in Jamaica in 2007 when, remarkably, Rainsford was also on strike, this time he made contact and gave Zimbabwe a vital lead in the three-match series which continues tomorrow.

The hosts needed only six to win off the last over and with O’Brien having conceded 28 off his previous three, it was a brave call by captain William Porterfield to give him the ball again. It almost paid off.