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KINGSTON, Jamaica, Mar 18 (Reuters) Former champions Pakistan were eliminated from the World Cup when they lost a thrilling Group D match against part-timers Ireland by three wickets at Sabina Park.

The defeat of the 1992 champions by the debutants is one of the biggest shocks in the nine-tournament history of the World Cup which was first played in 1975.

Ireland, requiring a revised target of 128 after a rain delay during their innings, won with a six over mid-wicket by captain Trent Johnston off Azhar Mahmood. There were 32 balls remaining.

The result yesterday means Pakistan, who also lost their opening match against West Indies on Tuesday, are out and Ireland are in pole position to progress to the Super Eights, probably with the hosts, from the gorup.

Kevin O'Brien was 16 not out after his brother Niall had earlier scored a crucial 72 on St Patrick's Day.

Ireland were coasting to victory at 113-5 but the 35th over of the innings bowled by Rao Iftikhar included two wickets and that created a tense finale.

Paceman Mohammad Sami had given Pakistan early hope with two wickets, and finished with 3-29 but Ireland resisted every Pakistan offensive before edging home in the gathering gloom.

USUALLY RELIABLE Pakistan, who had lost their opening match to hosts West Indies on Tuesday, were earlier dismissed for just 132 in 45.4 overs as seamer Boyd Rankin claimed 3-32, including 13 wides.

Pakistan lost the match because of their batting -- their top scorer was extras with 29.

They began losing wickets as early as the first over when Mohammad Hafeez (4) was caught behind from seamer David Langford-Smith to the sixth ball of the match.

The usually reliable Younis Khan then followed with a third-ball nought, caught at slip off Rankin, to make the score 15-2.

Mohammad Yousuf, another batsman that Pakistan look to when they need to steady the innings, lasted 31 balls before he drove to point and was caught for 15 off Johnston. That was 56-3.

The loss of skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq in the next over was the moment when the Irish party really began. He edged the South African-born medium-pacer Andre Botha to Eoin Morgan at slip for one and it was 58-4.

Opener Imran Nazir, renowned for his attacking stroke-play, was probably not the batsman Pakistan wanted in their crisis and his regular playing and missing was soon followed by an edge to Morgan in the slips off Botha. That was 66-5.

Shoaib Malik looked at ease for the 25 balls he lasted but he became the sixth victim when the score was 72.

There was still hope while Mahmood and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal were left to steer Pakistan to a competitive total against a highly motivated Ireland team.

But they both fell within four balls of one another in the same Rankin over, the 31st of the innings as the score went from 103-6 to 105-8.

The seven-week World Cup culminates with the April 28 final in Barbados.

REUTERS PDS PM0618