Second one-day international, Windhoek
Namibia 321-6 (50 overs): Erasmus 156* (125), Frylinck 76 (90); Hoey 3-53
Ireland 290 (47.3 overs): Stirling 77 (71); Brassell 4-52
Namibia win by 31 runs, five-game series tied 1-1
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An unbeaten 156 from Gerhard Erasmus saw Namibia level their five-game one-day international series against Ireland at one win apiece.
The Namibia captain twice took the game away from the tourists in Windhoek as his side won by 31 runs.
First, a career-best effort with the bat helped set an imposing total of 32. The 31-year-old then took the final two wickets of the game as Ireland’s tail threatened to make an unlikely chase.
Ireland captain Paul Stirling won the toss and, having put the hosts into bat, saw his bowling attack struggle, especially in the death overs.
Again without leading seamer Mark Adair, Byron McDonough took a wicket with the first ball of his spell but ended up with 1-71. Curtis Campher’s 10 innings were also costly as he finished with 1-74.
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Spinner Gavin Hoey was the pick of the bunch as he matched his trio of wickets from Wednesday’s victory, this time with figures of 3-53.
As they set about chasing 322, Stirling’s uptick in form continued with a second half-century of the series, this time with a knock of 77 from 71 deliveries.
His wicket, leg before off the bowling of Jack Brassell, however ended a spell where three batters were dismissed for the addition of just six runs.
Brassell was the pick of Namibia bowlers, accounting for not only Stirling but also Lorcan Tucker, George Dockrell and Curtis Campher as he finished with 4-52.
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A ninth-wicket stand of 58 from Hoey and Jai Moondra briefly brought Ireland within sight, but when the latter was out for 20, caught and bowled by Erasmus, hopes were quickly dashed.
The series resumes on Tuesday in Windhoek as Ireland continue their preparations for next year’s World Cup qualifiers.
