He's had a nightmare season with Warwickshire, but yesterday Ireland captain William Porterfield stepped up to propel Ireland towards a third successive 50 over World Cup.

After beating Netherlands in Amstelveen yesteday, Just one win from their remaining three games will see Ireland qualify for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.

Qualification could come as soon as tomorrow when the sides meet again.

Dropped second ball, it took a battling innings of 79 by Porterfield to ensure they made a defendable total of 236.

It was his first time to pass 50 in more than 20 innings this summer. The skipper was at the wicket for every over of the innings, helped mostly by the O'Brien brothers Niall (70) and Kevin (32 off 22 balls) on a difficult pitch.

Porterfield and Niall o'Brien added 125 in a vital stand for the 3rd wicket off 185 balls which was only ended when the Dubliner was run out by a direct hit. In an echo of these sides' meeting at the 2011 World Cup, Ireland collapsed in a heap losing four wickets in nine balls.

But Porterfield"s magic extended to his bowling changes as first Paul Stirling and then Kevin O'Brien took wickets in their first overs.

O'Brien claimed the Dutch danger man Tom Cooper in a remarkable ODI-best spell of 4-13 off seven overs. He also caught and bowled keeper Wesley Barresi, who top scored with 55.