The final ball of the match (Photo: CricketEurope)Did Ireland snatch a tie from the jaws of victory or defeat? The question will be asked for ever and a day and the answers will be different every time.

Even as I write this eight hours after Zimbabwe's most experienced player, Stuart MatsikenyerI, failed to hit the winning run off Andrew White's final ball on Ireland's World Cup debut, there is an argument that the Test nation choked and another that the Irish, yet again, failed to finish off their beaten opponents.

For those of us who experienced the traumas of the World League in Kenya - four last-over losses out of five - it was just wonderful to see Ireland avoid defeat. A total of 221 for nine should not have been enough but. for the third time out of three in the Caribbean, the Ireland bowlers refused to surrender, the horrors of Nairobi gone, if not forgotten.

Only one Zimbabwe wicket fell in the first 20 overs, the Africans with 92 runs on the board seemingly in control. But back came Trent Johnston and on came Kyle McCallan and suddenly it was 107 for three. What happened two balls later, was the fielding error - just one of many in a sub-standard display, that cost Ireland the victory. Kevin O'Brien's throw to the stumps, from mid-wicket, was fumbled by McCallan with Matsikenyeri, still to face a ball, short of his crease. By the time Ireland's most capped player had recovered the non-striker had made his ground. He finished 73 not out.

Even after that, however, Ireland did not give up. Andrew White forced Vusimuzi Sibanda to step on his stumps and McCallan, doing what he does best, lured Elton Chigumbura into an aerial shot which Jeremy Bray dived to catch. 133 for five and game on.

Now it was Zimbabwe's turn to fight back and MatsikenyerI was joined by Bruce Taylor who added 70 crucial runs before Ireland were given a lifeline, McCallan getting a touch to a return drive and Taylor, the non-striker was run out, backing up.

It should not have mattered because Zimbabwe needed only 19 from 34 balls with four wickets left but it is not only Ireland who can fold in such circumstances. Andre Botha and Kevin O'Brien, the latter bowling a wicket-maiden in the 49th over, each made a breakthrough and when No 10 Christopher Mpofu was run out, Zimbabwe needed nine off the final over with the last pair at the wicket.

White stepped up to bowl it and was lucky to concede only a couple of twos and two singles of the first four balls. Johnston, at short third man, did magnificently to get a hand to the fifth but although the ball fell to ground he still had two chances to run out the batsmen. They not only survived but the two runs tied the scores.

Ireland could not win but any disappointment turned to joy when Zimbabwe's hero, MatsikenyerI, missed the last ball and the chance to win the game.

It also ensured Bray won the man of the match award for his chanceless and undefeated 115, from 137 balls with 10 fours and two sixes. The fact that it was played almost entirely under cloudy skies - the innings was actually delayed by rain for 25 minutes - and no team-mate could reach 30 underlines the magnitude of his dedication and concentration.

The batsman who scored Ireland's first ODI hundred has now scored his adopted country's first World Cup century. That was one man who did not deserve to be on the losing team and the truth of the argument is that probably no-one else on the field did either. Cricket was the winner and it was the game that, on day three, has kick-started the World Cup.