Moondra's record 6-26 steers Ireland to 130-run win and a 2-2 series tie

Seamer Jai Moondra produced a career-best 6-26 in Windhoek on 30 October 2026 as Ireland defeated Namibia by 130 runs to level their five-match series 2-2, setting up a decisive fifth game on Sunday.

Moondra's 6-26 is the best one-day international return by an Ireland bowler, surpassing Josh Little's 6-36 against Zimbabwe in 2023, and the India-born 29-year-old has taken 10 wickets in the first four matches of the series. Ireland's touring squad includes all-rounder Mark Adair, who has yet to feature, and their bowlers had previously allowed Namibia to pass 300 twice in the opening three games, leaving Ireland 2-1 down in the series before this match.

Stand-in captain Lorcan Tucker lost the toss and Ireland were put in to bat, Tim Tector replacing the injured Paul Stirling as an opener. Tector, making his ODI debut after eight previous T20 caps, reached a maiden half-century in 64 deliveries and finished 73 off 81 balls with seven fours and three sixes. Curtis Campher added 66 from 50 balls — following Tuesday's century in a losing cause — before falling to a fine catch by home captain Gerhard Erasmus, while George Dockrell remained 47 not out as Ireland posted 298-8 in their 50 overs.

Namibia faltered early in their reply, reduced to 32-3 after Moondra removed three top-order batsmen. A 57-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Zane Green and Ruben Trumpelmann provided brief resistance, but Moondra dismissed both batsmen within nine deliveries en route to his first international five-wicket haul. He completed the innings with the wicket of Jack Brassell as Namibia were all out for 168 in 41 overs; Green scored 45 off 58 balls and Trumpelmann 40 off 34.

The victory left the five-match series level at 2-2 and Moondra with a tally of 10 wickets from the opening four fixtures. Ireland also headed into the final match without captain Paul Stirling, who will miss the remainder of the series after sustaining a broken finger in the third game.

A fifth and deciding match is scheduled for Sunday to determine the series winner.