Moondra’s six-wicket burst levels series as Ireland beat Namibia

Ireland 298/8 (50 overs) beat Namibia 168 (41 overs) by 130 runs
High Performance Oval, Windhoek, Friday 30 October
Toss: Namibia, chose to field
Player of the Match: Jai Moondra (Ireland)
Series: 2-2, with one match to play

NAMIBIA will get another chance at clinching the five-match One Day International Series after going down to Ireland by 130 runs in the fourth ODI in Windhoek on Friday.

Jai Moondra took six wickets for 26 runs as Ireland bowled Namibia out for 168 to level the series at 2-2. Namibia had led 2-1 going into the match, setting up a decisive fifth and final ODI.

Chasing 299, Namibia lost Malan Kruger for a duck in the third over, caught behind by Ireland captain Lorcan Tucker off Moondra. The bowler then had Jan Frylinck caught by Andy Balbirnie for four before dismissing Louren Steenkamp, caught by Curtis Campher for 21 at the end of the 11th over.

Campher had Alexander Busing-Volschenk caught by Balbirnie for eight, while Liam McCarthy trapped captain Gerhard Erasmus lbw for one to leave Namibia struggling at 45 for five in the 16th over. Namibia had reached 29 for two in the first 10-over powerplay.

Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton scored 23 off 34 balls before Jordan Neill had him caught behind at 78 for six. Matthew Humphreys then removed JJ Smit, who had earlier taken four wickets for 34 runs, caught behind for three as Namibia slipped to 88 for seven.

Wicketkeeper Zane Green and Ruben Trumpelmann offered some resistance, adding 57 for the eighth wicket. Green scored 45 off 58 balls, including three fours, before Moondra bowled him at 145 for eight in the 35th over.

Trumpelmann made 40 off 34 balls, with three fours and three sixes, before Moondra bowled him at 152 for nine. Jack Brassell scored 11 before becoming Moondra’s sixth victim, caught by George Dockrell to end Namibia’s innings in the 41st over. Bernard Scholtz was unbeaten on five.

Moondra finished with six for 26 from 10 overs, including one maiden, at an economy rate of 2.60 runs per over. Neill took one for 28 from eight overs, Campher one for 23 from six, McCarthy one for 36 and Humphreys one for 52.

Earlier, Namibia won the toss and chose to field. Smit led their attack with four for 34 from 10 overs, dismissing Balbirnie, Tim Tector, Campher and Moondra.

Tim Tector, making his ODI debut, top-scored for Ireland with 73 off 81 balls. Ireland were 171 for five after 36.1 overs before Campher and Dockrell accelerated the scoring.

Campher struck 66 off 50 balls, including six sixes, while Dockrell remained unbeaten on 47 off 34 deliveries. Their 89-run partnership for the sixth wicket helped Ireland score 101 runs in the final 10 overs and finish on 298 for eight.

Scholtz, Trumpelmann, Brassell and Erasmus took one wicket each for Namibia.

The series is now level at 2-2, with the fifth and final ODI set to decide the winner.