William Porterfield has delivered a captain’s century against Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval, giving Ireland hope of advancing to a World Cup cricket showdown against Australia.

Porterfield’s knock of 107 lifted Ireland to a total of 237 on Sunday, when they faced Pakistan in a veritable octo-final.

The winner will meet Australia in Friday’s quarter-final at the same venue, while the loser is likely to head home depending on their net run rate.

From the moment Porterfield won the toss, he always looked comfortable and in control.

The same could not be said of Porterfield’s teammates, who batted nervously and gave away too many cheap wickets.

Porterfield had managed one half-century in the side’s previous five games at the tournament.

But Ireland’s top ODI run-scorer saved his best form for when it mattered.

As wickets tumbled around him and Ireland stumbled to 2-56 then 4-134, the left-hander was steady.

With the exception of a mix-up between the wickets with Gary Wilson, Porterfield played a chanceless hand.

That was until he reached 99.

The 30-year-old charged into triple figures by smacking a powerful drive back at paceman Rahat Ali, who got hands to the ball but couldn’t complete the catch in the 38th over.

Sohail Khan dismissed the centurion seven minutes later, when Shahid Afridi trotted in from mid-on and held a diving catch.

Ireland struggled with the willow, but excelled when it came to the Decision Review System (DRS).

Disciplined use of their one referral meant it was still there for Wilson in the 41st over when he was on the wrong end of a howler from Marais Erasmus.

Erasmus’ lbw verdict was promptly overturned as replays revealed a thick edge.

In sharp contrast, Pakistan wasted their referral in the 12th over when Ruchira Palliyaguruge was right to judge Ed Joyce not out despite a boisterous appeal.

Joyce and Wilson failed to make the most of it.

Joyce added one run before a mistimed pull shot brought about his downfall.

Wilson, the only other Irishman apart from Porterfield to pass 18, was dismissed for 29 in the same over he was reprieved.

Pakistan will fancy their chances of chasing such a small target, but they are yet to win at this World Cup batting second.