Smit, Brassell set up Namibia's first-ever bilateral ODI series win

In the fifth One-Day International (ODI) in Windhoek, Namibia defeated Ireland by five wickets to win the series 3-2. JJ Smit and Jack Brassell performed admirably with the bat. Brassell's 3-15 and Smit's 4-20 helped Namibia hold Ireland to 129 points. In spite of some stuttering in the chase, Gerhard Erasmus's 30 and Louren Steenkamp's 46 helped Namibia win in 21.2 overs, their first series victory over a full member nation.

With the ball, Namibia got off to a great start and used the pacers' help to keep Ireland in check. JJ Smit was particularly impressive with his line and length, while Ruben Trumpelmann provided the early breakthrough, dismissing Tim Tector for five in the second over. Before Andrew Balbirnie was out for nine when Max Heingo struck with his first ball, Ireland had just 25/1 in the first ten overs. Harry Tector and Cade Carmichael attempted to rebuild, but their 29-run partnership was ended when Jack Brassell bowled Carmichael for 27.

Lorcan Tucker briefly injected some urgency with two sixes in a quickfire 20 off 14 balls, but Ireland's innings unravelled spectacularly in the 23rd over. Tucker was caught and bowled by Smit when he returned, and he then caught Curtis Campher and George Dockrell lbw in just four deliveries. Ireland slipped from 84/3 to 84/6, with Smit completing a three-wicket maiden to leave them in deep trouble.

With a counterattack that included 28 runs with Gavin Hoey and 33 runs scored off 25 balls, Jordan Neill provided some resistance. He hit four fours and a six. However, in the 30th over, Brassell lbw-trapped Neill, and Smit then bowled Hoey out for his fourth wicket. Brassell then accounted for Jai Moondra to wrap up the innings in the 34th over as Ireland lost their last seven wickets for just 45 runs.

Namibia made a positive start to the chase with Louren Steenkamp leading the charge as he struck regular boundaries, and also a six off Neill. Michael van Lingen scored 15 from the opposing end before Harry Tector skillfully caught Jai Moondra at first slip to defeat him in the seventh over. Steenkamp kept hitting boundaries, hitting two fours off Moondra in the ninth over to propel Namibia past fifty.

Jan Frylinck joined the attack, striking two fours in the 10th over off Matthew Humphreys as Namibia reached 61/1. However, Humphreys struck in his subsequent over, bowling Frylinck with a sharp shot that ended his innings. As Ireland attempted a comeback, Steenkamp was run out shortly thereafter, missing the fifty-point mark by four.

Tector put down a tough catch in Humphreys' over to give Malan Kruger a reprieve. The 17th over saw Erasmus hit a four and a six off Gavin Hoey to propel Namibia past 100. He also hit two fours off Humphreys before the Namibia captain was bowled out for an 18-ball 30 by the bowler. Kruger fell in the next over, handing a catch back to Hoey, with Namibia nine away from victory. Zane Green finished it off with a six in the 22nd over as Namibia picked up a comfortable win to seal the series.