This was the game Ireland had targeted as a possible win in the Super Eight stages. Bangladesh had got to this stage with a win over India, achieved on the same day that Ireland beat Pakistan. Ireland made one change to their team from the one that lost to Australia, with Andre Botha, recovered from his hamstring injury, returning for John Mooney.

Ireland are officially in with the big boys. A glorious 74-run victory against Bangladesh, their second success at the World Cup finals, was enough to give them full ODI status and guaranteed series against the full member countries for as long as they want. It could also earn them seventh place in the Super 8's and an extra $50,000 but the money was not on the minds of the Ireland players as they achieved their most significant ever victory.

Fittingly it was captain fantastic Trent Johnston who took the final wicket to seal the triumph and the Kensington Oval turned into a sea of green. Every one of the team was a hero as William Porterfield and Jeremy Bray finally came good on the same day, leaving behind their embarrassing run of single figure partnerships in the Caribbean, to give Kevin O'Brien and Johnston the opportunity to ram home their side's advantage.

Ireland scored 98 in the last 12 overs to post 243-7, their highest total in the World Cup, and the bowlers responded superbly. Boyd Rankin got his usual early wicket, while Andre Botha, back in the team after missing the last two games, and Johnston followed up with one apiece and the Ireland game plan worked to perfection. Kyle McCallan squeezed the runs and David Langford-Smith, who had to endure the horror of dropping Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar, came back to take two wickets and reduce Bangladesh 138-8.

That was the cue for Ireland's Call to be trumpeted out from the Greenwich and Haynes stand and every other seating area at the World Cup final venue also rocked to the chanting, singing and cheering delirious euphoria of the Irish fans who had travelled to Barbados to witness a unique moment. And it wasn't just Ireland supporters. It may not have been India against Pakistan, as the World Cup organisers had planned today, but the atmosphere was every bit as good as any number of thousands from the sub-continent could have generated because the gates were thrown open, 90 minutes after play began, and a crowd approaching 20,000 watched the action.

The majority may not have seen the start of Ireland's innings but they were there in force at the end as Kevin O'Brien and Trent Johnston plundered 78 runs from 67 balls, the Irish finishing in the style of a top-class one-day side. They were able to do it because of the 92 run partnership for the first wicket, Ireland's highest opening stand in their 16 ODIs. Neither Porterfield or Bray had enjoyed any sort of form before this game, the former had looked out of his depth against the Test bowling attacks and Bray had scored just two runs in his last four games.

The Australian did not look much better yesterday but, crucially, he hung in there and although scoring only 31 from 70 balls, thwarted the Bangladesh opening bowlers and saw off the first 11 overs of spin. Porterfield is the best fielder in the team and also the best runner but he set such high standards that his team-mates fail to reach his expectations. The Donemana man must admit he was culpable for losing his first partner when, on 49, he called Bray for a single. He did not wait to see if the ball had passed the bowler and when Saqibul Hasan swooped, he picked up the ball and in one movement threw down the stumps at the far end with Bray short of his ground. Two overs later, with his first 50 in nine innings safely under his belt, Porterfield did the same again, albeit with a more compliant Eoin Morgan, but again the fielder chose the right end and the Middlesex player failed to beat the throw, chasing the second. It was a particular disappointment for Morgan as he had survived a dropped catch on the mid-wicket boundary off his second delivery, the ball going through the fielder's hands for four, and the dismissal just added to his list of failures at this World Cup.

Niall O'Brien's first attempt at the reverse sweep was played well enough but, unfortunately, straight into the hands of the backward point fielder. His brother, so impressive in this tournament, continued his form and after consolidating in the fourth wicket stand with Porterfield, Kevin broke free with two huge sixes and a couple of other boundaries. His 48 came off just 44 balls. By the 42nd over Porterfield was within sight of achieving his task of batting through the innings, he hit only three boundaries, until he also attempted a reverse sweep. It left Ireland with two "hitters" at the crease as Johnston had no hesitation in promoting himself up the order and he stayed to the last over. Ireland could afford to lose three late wickets and still finished just seven short of 250. It proved more than enough and for Irish cricket it just doesn't get any better than this.

Man-of-the-Match, William Porterfield, claimed he and Bray had believed they could post a competitive total. The pair put on 92 for the first wicket to give the Irish a strong foundation. "We knew there was going to be a bit of pace and bounce but we managed to get past that and set a good total", he said. "We got stuck in, it wasn't easy, but we got through it. I think it has gone a bit crazy back home but it's all good and hopefully cricket can kick on." Ireland skipper Trent Johnston was proud of his side's performance after they bounced back from the resounding defeat by Australia. "We spoke about it after the game, we knew we had to get all three disciplines right today and we did", he said. "It's almost like we played the perfect game."

Ireland now face Sri Lanca in their final game and the 32-year old is hoping to give the team's coach, Adrian Birrell, a fitting farewell. "We've got a big game. It's the last game for coach Adrian Birrell and it would be fitting to give him a good send off", he added. "We need to work hard for our last game

Man of the match award went to Ireland's opener, William Porterfield.

This win put Ireland up into 7th place in the Super Eights table, with one game left to play against Sri Lanka. If they can do well in that game, at worst avoiding a heavy defeat, and West Indies beat Bangladesh in the latter's final game, Ireland might be able to hang on to 7th place, and the extra $50,000 that would go with that.