Cricket World Cup: The bails leapt up, so how did Ireland batsman survive?

The bail moves but landed back on the stumps as Ed Joyce remained at the crease in Ireland's Cricket World Cup win over UAE. Photo / Getty Images

It might be a bit rich to call it the luck of the Irish, but Ed Joyce was on the receiving end of an extraordinary piece of good fortune in Ireland's Pool B clash against the United Arab Emirates.

Ireland's No 3 was facing the impressive Amjad Javed in the 11th over with his score on 16 when a ball slid through his defences.

There was the tell-tale clatter of leather clipping stump and the neon lit up as the off bail lifted. Javed celebrated with glee, only to be stopped in his tracks when Joyce pointed out that the bail had settled back in its groove.

One of the reasons given why such solid contact brought no reward was that the technology in the bails, which enable them to light up like a Christmas tree on contact, has made them heavier and harder to dislodge.

All of which would have been small consolation for Javed, although he eventually dismissed Joyce for 37.

Ireland chased down UAE's 278 with eight wickets down, winning in the final over. They are third in Pool B, behind only India and South Africa on net run rate.

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