Johnston not counting eggs

Ireland have a potential Super Eights meeting lined up with England first with world number one team South Africa and champions Australia soon after.

But for now the Australian-born Johnston, who had to dash off after the three-wicket win for an MRI scan on a shoulder injury, wants to savour the victory and not begin to look towards the Super Eights.

"A lot of people are talking that we're the first team qualified but Zimbabwe could come out and cause a couple of upsets and we could still be going home," Johnston told reporters. "Hopefully that won't happen.

"I don't really know who we would be playing (first) in the second round because my mind has been on these three games. We'll just be happy to be there and we will get in there and fight as hard as we can."

Johnston scored the winning runs against Pakistan with a six over mid-wicket, sealing Pakistan's exit in the tournament.

Despite Johnston's modest approach it is almost certain that they will be progressing in the World Cup and he was struggling to describe his pleasure at the upset.

"I didn't do too well at English at school so I don't have a word for it," Johnston said when asked to put the victory into words.

"It's amazing. We had a huge advantage winning the toss but we did bowl the ball in very good areas. We held our catches and had a total to chase of 130 (sic), which was unbelievable.

"Niall and Kevin O'Brien batted superbly and got us within 20 or 30 and we got home in the end. It's magnificent.

"The support out there was amazing for us and I thought those 1,500 Irish supporters were phenomenal. The guys have got a licence to party."

Johnston said that Pakistan's 132 total after losing the toss was worth 270 on a flat wicket. It showed how much he rated the run chase of his team, especially man-of-the-match Niall O'Brien, who scored 72.

"We're not used to that pressure, and they have it day in and day out, but our guys stood up and I can't praise the two O'Brien brothers enough the way they batted. Their guts and courage was what got us over the line."