WINDHOEK, Namibia – Ireland pace bowler Jai Moondra took a career-best 6-26 from 10 overs to lead the visitors to a dominant 130-run win over Namibia at the National Cricket Ground today.
With Lorcan Tucker standing in as captain in Paul Stirling’s absence due to injury, Ireland was sent in to bat first and made a steady start in the first 10 overs, with Andrew Balbirnie (19) partnered at the top of the order with ODI debutant Tim Tector.
Tector played and missed a few early, then found his groove on a pitch that was playing true – the 23-year old younger brother of Harry brought up his fifty off 64 balls, going on to make an eye-catching 73 off 81 balls (with 7 fours and 3 sixes).
A minor stumble saw Ireland at 153-4 in the 32nd over, but brilliant late-order batting by Curtis Campherr (66 off 50 balls) and George Dockrell (47* off 34 balls) saw 111 runs plundered off the last 10 overs.
Campher has been in exceptional form with the bat, with scores of 17, 45, 106 and 66 for the series to date – and he helped Ireland reach 298-8 from their 50 overs.
Not to be outshined, the Irish bowlers then set about demolishing the Namibian top order, having the home side at 88-7 in the 27th over, led by a remarkable spell of bowling by Jai Moondra. The left-arm seamer bowled a superb line and length, not only gumming up the run-scoring but taking wickets at regular intervals. Moondra finished with 6-26, which are the best figures ever in ODI cricket for Ireland.
All five of Ireland’s attack took a wicket, and bowled a disciplined line, but today belonged to Moondra who only made his international debut in June, but already has 18 wickets from 9 games across formats.
The two sides are back in action for the series decider on Sunday.
MATCH SUMMARY
Namibia Men v Ireland Men, 4th ODI, Windhoek, 30 October 2026
Ireland 298-8 (50 overs; T Tector 73, C Campher 66m, G Dockrell 47*; JJ Smit 4-34)
Namibia 168 (41 overs; Z Green 45; J Moondra 6-26)
Ireland Men won by 130 runs
