Intro:

Ireland set up a Twenty20 World Cup qualification showdown with Namibia by beating the Netherlands by seven wickets on Friday.

Script:

Ireland were looking to keep their hopes of a place at the Twenty20 World Cup alive when they faced the Netherlands in a qualifier in Dubai on Friday.

Having lost the toss the Netherlands were put into bat and made the worst possible start when Boyd Rankin clean bowled Michael Swart with just five runs on the board.

Ireland then removed the Netherlands other opener Stephen Myburgh, William Porterfield taking a sensational catch off the bowling of Trent Johnston to leave the Dutch 17 for two.

Alexei Kervezee then steadied the Dutch innings with a well crafted 56, this six the pick of his shots.

However, with Kervezee gone the runs dried up and when captain Peter Borren was caught by Rankin off the last ball of the innings the Netherlands had only managed to score 114-7.

Ireland's opening partnership began chasing down their target, making 41 without lose before William Porterfield was caught at long on off the bowling off Pietar Seelar.

Ireland did suffer a mini-collapse when they lost two wickets in the space of two balls, but Ed Joyce kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Kevin O'Brien then arrived at the crease to see Ireland home, smashing a couple of big six weeks, including this one off the bowling of Borren.

Man of the match O'Brien, who had earlier taken two wickets, found the boundary with his next shot to secure a seven wicket win for Ireland, sending them through to the second preliminary final against Namibia on Saturday.