Namibia Beat Ireland by 5 Wickets — JJ Smit's Three in an Over Delivers a First Bilateral ODI Series Win

Two months ago Namibia had just lost their first bilateral ODI series, 3-0 to South Africa. On Sunday they closed out their second by beating a Full Member with almost 29 overs in hand, and Zane Green finished it with a six. Series like this are how a country prepares to co-host a World Cup, and Namibia will host games at the 2027 edition.

Ireland chose to bat in the decider and were 84 for 3 in the 23rd over, not comfortable but still in the game. Smit then had Lorcan Tucker caught and bowled with the first ball, trapped Curtis Campher lbw with the second and George Dockrell lbw two balls later. 84 for 3 had become 84 for 6, and two of the men who might have rebuilt had gone for ducks.

Jordan Neill's 33 off 25 added some late respectability, but Smit returned to remove Gavin Hoey and Brassell wrapped things up to finish with 3 for 15. Smit's nine overs, three of them maidens, cost just 20.

Scoreboard pressure hardly came into it. Michael van Lingen and Louren Steenkamp put on 40 for the first wicket, Steenkamp made 46 off 44 before being run out, and Gerhard Erasmus hit 30 off 18 to keep the rate well above what was needed. A small wobble from 113 for 3 to 117 for 5 changed nothing.

Ireland will not enjoy the record. This is only their second ODI series loss to an Associate side, after the Netherlands in 2021. Their captain and two senior all-rounders managed 20 between them on the day that mattered most.

We made Namibia slight favourites on home advantage and Erasmus's form, and that held up. We also singled out Brassell's penetration, which he supplied again. We called Campher Ireland's rock, and he was out first ball for a duck. Paul Stirling, whom we described as crucial, did not play in this match.

Namibia also earned their first win over a Full Member in this series, by 31 runs in the second ODI. They now have a series win to take with them on the road to 2027.