Upstaging all-rounder Kevin O’Brien was always going to be a tough ask after Ireland’s thrilling two-wicket World Cup win over United Arab Emirates.

But teammate Gary Wilson still thought he would give it a shake at the Gabba on Wednesday night.

O’Brien had an ongoing battle with UAE’s record-breaking centurion Shaiman Anwar (106), gave one of the great send-offs and smashed a 25-ball 50 to help inspire Ireland’s second straight Cup win.

Yet Wilson set tongues wagging after the post-match press conference – and not just for his man-of-the-match knock of 80 (69 balls) for the Emerald Isle.

Wilson could not help have a crack at world body ICC after the qualifiers provided the most remarkable contest of the 2015 World Cup to date.

Irish captain William Porterfield had already taken aim at the ICC over their decision to downsize the 2019 World Cup from 14 to 10 teams.

In five years’ time the top eight ranked teams will immediately slot into the World Cup with the other two decided by a qualifying tournament.

And Wilson couldn’t resist another jab after No.11 ranked Ireland pulled off a win over the UAE with four balls to spare.

“It was two teams outside the top eight that played this game, was it?” he said.

“It was a good game, right?”

Wasn’t it, just.

Anwar struck UAE’s first World Cup and second ODI ton.

And he shared a record World Cup seventh-wicket stand of 107 with Amjad Javed (42 off 35) to help lift UAE from 6-131 to 9-278.

Then there was O’Brien.

The red-haired all-rounder was at his fiery best with the ball, stopping mid-delivery on consecutive balls complaining of Anwar moving on the crease and prompting the umpires’ intervention.

“My understanding of the rule is that the bowler is entitled to pull out if the batsman moves,” Wilson said.

“The batsman is deemed to be wasting time.”

O’Brien had also warranted chuckles when he celebrated catching the wonderfully named Krishna Karate with his best “crane” impersonation in honour of classic movie The Karate Kid.

And he threatened to steal the show with the bat by surviving a dropped chance on 24 and thrashing a 72-run, sixth-wicket stand off just six overs with Wilson to revive Ireland’s chase.

Wicketkeeper Wilson was dismissed by Mohammad Naveed (2-65) after hitting two successive boundaries in the 48th over.

By that stage Ireland needed 12 runs to win and tailenders George Dockrell and Alex Cusack got them home.

Ireland are on track for a quarter-final berth after backing up their shock opening win over the West Indies.

Wilson admitted they must reassess their death bowling ahead of their next clash with a vulnerable South Africa at Canberra on March 3.

UAE plundered 147 runs in the last 15 overs – with O’Brien conceding 2-61 off just seven.

– AAP