We won fairly - Johnston

Trent Johnston © Getty Images

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Ireland captain Trent Johnston has dismissed suggestions his side’s shock victory over Pakistan was a fix.

The World Cup debutants dumped their Asian opponents out of the tournament with a three-wicket victory at Kingston’s Sabina Park in Jamaica - a result which was immediately followed by the murder of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer.

Match-fixing and spot betting have been suggested as motives for the killing but Johnston said that demeaned Ireland’s performance,

“The toss of the coin was crucial against Pakistan and we bowled very well against them,” said the 32-year-old Australian.

“We keep hearing things in the media about match-fixing, but you only have to look at that game and look at the way we bowled and fielded and I was just hugely proud of the guys.

“We still had to go out and get 130-odd runs against a quality bowling attack and they were giving it everything and luckily we got home.”

The Irish bowled out Pakistan for 132 in their Group D match and then knocked off the runs with 8.2 overs remaining.

No-one thought it was anything other than a great World Cup upset until news broke that Woolmer had been murdered in his Jamaica hotel room, prompting a huge police investigation and even more fevered speculation about the cause.

“All the rumours about the match have probably taken the shine off it a little for us, but this is the first day it's really sunk in that we're here,” added Johnston.

“It is a tragedy what happened to Bob and it has taken away a little of the excitement, but we've had to move on from that.

“I was hugely proud of the guys about the way they handled themselves around the hotel because there was obviously a lot going on around there and we put that at the back of our minds.”