Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter

AFTER PULLING their way back into a game they seemed destined to lose, Ireland captain Trent Johnston credited the crowd for helping his team earn a tie against Zimbabwe in the second Group D game of the Cricket World Cup at Sabina Park yesterday.

"It was just fantastic, I can't praise them enough," Johnson said of the Irish contingent.

"When it looked as if the game was lost, they were cheering every dot ball and every run saved. They were like the 12th and 13th men out there and it is because of them that we got home," he said.

Johnston's analysis was spot on as Ireland, despite being against the ropes and dropping a couple of important catches, were diving around the place, backing up for each other and clapping every good attempt like a team that was in the driver's seat.

The inspiration came from clusters of fans scattered around the ground who never quit cheering, even when the few Zimbabwean fans in the audience could sense victory and began egging their team on to victory.