Ireland Falls 3-2 as Namibia Wins ODI Series Decider
Namibia beat Ireland by five wickets in the fifth and final one-day international on Sunday to win the series 3-2. It is the first time Namibia has won a bilateral series against a full member nation, a result that will be remembered as a turning point for the side.
Ireland won the opener by 55 runs, and Namibia responded by taking the next two games by 31 and 63 runs. Ireland pushed back with a 130-run victory in the fourth match, keeping the series alive heading into the final game.
After winning the toss, Ireland elected to bat. The visitors lost their first wicket when Tim Tector fell for 5 at a score of 6. Carmichael and Balbirnie, who scored 9, then added 23 runs for the second wicket. Carmichael and Harry Tector combined for 29 runs for the third wicket, lifting the total to 58.
Carmichael was dismissed for 27 from 57 balls, including two boundaries. Harry Tector and skipper Lorcan Tucker then added 26 runs from 23 balls for the fourth wicket, reaching 84.
The innings then lost momentum. Smit dismissed Tucker (20) and Campher (0) in consecutive deliveries early in the 22nd over and came close to a hat-trick. Dockrell survived the third ball, but Smit got him lbw with the next delivery. Smit finished the over with three wickets and no runs conceded.
Jordan Neil's 33 from 25 balls, featuring five fours or boundaries, was the main contribution in the lower order. It helped Ireland post 129 on the board. Smit's figures of 4 for 20 from nine overs were the best in the innings. Brassell added three wickets, and Trumpelmann, Heingo and Mybergh took one each.
Namibia chased down the target in 21.2 overs. Van Lingen and Steinkamp put on 40 for the first wicket. Van Lingen was out for 40, and Steinkamp added 28 with Frylinck for the second wicket, taking the score to 68. Steinkamp was out for 46 at 74.
Kruger (15) and Erasmus (30) then added 39 runs for the fourth wicket, moving Namibia towards the target. Humphreys was the pick of the Irish bowlers with two wickets, while Mooney and Hoey each took one.
The result marks an important milestone for Namibian cricket and gives the team a series win it can build on.