Namibia Beat Ireland by Five Wickets in Windhoek to Take ODI Series 3-2

JJ Smit’s 4 for 20 bowled Ireland out for 129 in Windhoek on 1 November, and Namibia knocked off the runs with five wickets to spare to win the five-match One-Day International series 3-2. Namibia had never before won a bilateral ODI series against one of the ICC’s Full Members.

Ireland batted first and never settled. Smit bowled nine overs, three of them maidens, and was named player of the match. Jack Brassell took three for 15, so the pair shared seven of the ten wickets. Only four Ireland batters reached double figures, with Jordan Neill top-scoring on 33 from 25 balls, and the innings was over in the 34th over.

A target of 130 gave Namibia little to worry about. Opener Louren Steenkamp and captain Gerhard Erasmus, who made 30, did most of the scoring, and the hosts were home in the 22nd over despite losing five wickets.

A series that swung both ways

Neither side held the upper hand for long. Ireland won the opening match by 55 runs, Namibia answered with wins by 31 and 63 runs, and Ireland drew level at 2-2 by winning the fourth game by 130 runs on 30 October. All five matches were played in Windhoek. Erasmus was named player of the series after scoring 263 runs and taking four wickets across the five games.

Ireland captain Lorcan Tucker described the decider as “a disappointing day” for his team and credited Namibia with playing “diligent cricket” for longer spells than his side managed.

The result also moved the ICC men’s ODI team rankings. Namibia stayed 16th but gained four rating points to reach 36, while Ireland dropped seven points to 44 and fell from 12th to 13th.

For Namibia, the series win is a boost ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, which they will co-host with South Africa and Zimbabwe. Ireland now return home with plenty to review after losing a series in which they twice won comfortably.