Windhoek, November 1,2026: JJ Smit and Jack Brassell starred with the ball as Namibia defeated Ireland by five wickets in the fifth and final ODI to clinch the five-match series 3-2 on home soil on Sunday.
Smit claimed impressive figures of 4-20, while Brassell picked up 3-15 to help bowl Ireland out for a modest 129 in 33.4 overs.
In reply, Louren Steenkamp top-scored with 46, while captain Gerhard Erasmus contributed a brisk 30 to guide Namibia to victory in just 21.2 overs, despite a few setbacks during the chase.
The triumph marked Namibia’s maiden bilateral ODI series victory against a full-member nation, highlighting their growing stature in international cricket.
Namibia made an excellent start with the ball, exploiting favourable conditions for the pace bowlers to keep Ireland’s batting line-up under pressure.
Smit was particularly impressive with his disciplined line and length, while Ruben Trumpelmann provided the early breakthrough by dismissing Tim Tector for five in the second over.
Ireland managed just 25-1 in the first 10 overs before Max Heingo struck with his first delivery to remove Andrew Balbirnie for nine.
Cade Carmichael and Harry Tector attempted to rebuild the innings, but the scoring rate remained sluggish. Their 29-run partnership ended when Brassell bowled Carmichael for 27.
Lorcan Tucker briefly injected momentum into the innings with a quickfire 20 off 14 deliveries, including two sixes. However, Ireland’s innings unravelled in the 23rd over when Smit dismissed Tucker caught and bowled before trapping Curtis Campher and George Dockrell lbw within four deliveries.
Ireland slumped from 84-3 to 84-6, with Smit completing a three-wicket maiden to leave the visitors in serious trouble.
Jordan Neill offered some resistance with an attacking 33 off 25 balls, including four fours and a six. He also shared a 28-run partnership with Gavin Hoey before Brassell trapped him lbw in the 30th over.
Smit subsequently dismissed Hoey to claim his fourth wicket, while Brassell accounted for Jai Moondra to wrap up Ireland’s innings in the 34th over. Ireland lost their final seven wickets for just 45 runs.
Namibia began their chase positively, with Steenkamp finding regular boundaries, including a six off Neill. Michael van Lingen contributed 15 before falling to Moondra in the seventh over, caught brilliantly by Harry Tector at first slip.
Steenkamp continued his aggressive approach, striking two boundaries off Moondra in the ninth over to take Namibia past 50.
Jan Frylinck joined the opener and struck two fours off Matthew Humphreys as Namibia reached 61-1. However, Humphreys returned in the following over to bowl Frylinck with a sharply turning delivery.
Steenkamp was run out shortly afterwards, falling just four runs short of his half-century as Ireland attempted to fight back.
Harry Tector then dropped a difficult catch off Humphreys to give Malan Kruger a reprieve. Erasmus capitalised, striking a four and a six off Gavin Hoey to take Namibia beyond 100 in the 17th over.
The Namibia captain continued his aggressive batting with two more boundaries off Humphreys before the bowler dismissed him for 30 off 18 deliveries.
Kruger departed in the following over, handing a return catch to Hoey, with Namibia needing just nine runs for victory.
Zane Green ensured there were no further setbacks, sealing the five-wicket win with a six in the 22nd over as Namibia celebrated a historic series triumph.
