Moondra's record 6-26 helps Ireland force decider against Namibia

Published3 hours ago

Fourth one-day international, Windhoek

Ireland 298-8 (50 overs): T Tector 73 (81), Campher 66 (50); Smit 4-44

Namibia 168 (41 overs): Green 45 (58), Trumpelmann 40 (34); Moondra 6-26

Ireland win by 130 runs, series tied 2-2

Scorecard

Seamer Jai Moondra finished with the best ever figures for an Ireland bowler in one-day international cricket as the tourists levelled their five-game series against Namibia with a comprehensive 130-run victory.

His 6-26 in Windhoek eclipsed Josh Little's 6-36 against Zimbabwe in 2023, the previous best for Ireland in the format.

With leading all-rounder Mark Adair still to feature in the series despite his place in the touring squad, Ireland's bowlers had allowed their hosts to top 300 twice in the first three games of the series, dropping both to trail 2-1.

But, after Tim Tector marked his ODI debut with a fine knock of 73 off 81 balls to set Namibia a target of 299, this time Moondra put his side in a commanding position with three early wickets to leave the hosts faltering at 32-3.

While a 57-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Zane Green and Ruben Trumpelmann offered brief resistance, Moondra accounted for both in the space of nine deliveries to claim his first international five-wicket haul.

Fittingly, the India-born 29-year-old wrapped up the win with the wicket of Jack Brassell to level the series at 2-2 before Sunday's decider.

Campher continues impressive series with bat

With captain Paul Stirling missing the remainder of the series with a broken finger sustained in the third game, stand-in Lorcan Tucker lost the toss and saw his side put in to bat.

Tim Tector, the younger brother of middle-order batter Harry Tector, took Stirling's place as an opener and had to move through the gears as he adjusted to the unfamiliar format.

Making his ODI debut after eight previous caps in T20 cricket, he reached a maiden half-century in 64 deliveries before accelerating with to a 73 that featured seven fours and three sixes.

Curtis Campher continued to establish himself as Ireland's most consistent player with the bat as he followed Tuesday's century in a losing cause with 66 from 50 balls before falling to a brilliant catch from home captain Gerhard Erasmus.

The all-rounder now has an average of 55 across eight ODIs in 2026, and he found an able partner in George Dockrell who finished on 47 not out.

Moondra's career-best figures then ensured Ireland's batters had done more than enough.

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