Moondra's record 6-26 lifts Ireland to series-levelling win over Namibia

Jai Moondra took 6-26 as Ireland defeated Namibia by 130 runs in Windhoek to level their five-match one-day international series at 2-2. According to BBC Sport NI's Jonathan Bradley, the seamer's figures were the best recorded by an Ireland bowler in ODIs, improving on Josh Little's 6-36 against Zimbabwe in 2023. The result sends the series into a deciding match on Sunday.

Watch the highlights:

Ireland made 298-8 from their 50 overs after stand-in captain Lorcan Tucker lost the toss and Namibia chose to field. Regular captain Paul Stirling was ruled out of the rest of the series with a broken finger suffered in the third match. Tim Tector replaced him at the top of the order, making his ODI debut after eight appearances in international T20 cricket.

Tector gave Ireland a substantial contribution of 73 from 81 balls. The younger brother of Harry Tector reached his half-century from 64 deliveries before increasing his scoring rate, finishing with seven fours and three sixes. Curtis Campher added 66 from 50 balls, following his century in Tuesday's defeat, while George Dockrell remained unbeaten on 47. Smit returned Namibia's leading bowling figures of 4-44.

Campher's innings ended with a catch by Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus. The all-rounder's performances have taken his ODI batting average for 2026 to 55 across eight matches, the BBC reported. His contribution, alongside Tector's debut innings and Dockrell's unbeaten effort, left the hosts needing 299 to secure the series with a game to spare.

Moondra quickly disrupted that chase with three wickets that reduced Namibia to 32-3. Zane Green and Ruben Trumpelmann later added 57 for the eighth wicket, offering some resistance after the early damage. Green finished with 45 from 58 balls and Trumpelmann made 40 from 34, but Moondra dismissed both within nine deliveries to complete his first international five-wicket haul.

The 29-year-old then removed Jack Brassell to finish the match, with Namibia all out for 168 in 41 overs. Ireland's attack had conceded more than 300 twice in the opening three games, losing both those matches to fall behind 2-1. Moondra's record return reversed that pattern and brought his wicket tally for the first four matches of the series to 10.