Gerhard Erasmus stars with 156* as Namibia level series

Gerhard Erasmus hit a career-best 156* and then took the last two wickets as Namibia beat Ireland by 31 runs in the second ODI on Saturday, levelling the five-match series at 1-1. Jan Frylinck made 76 and Jack Brassell took 4 for 52 as Namibia defended 321/6 and bowled Ireland out for 290 in 47.3 overs, despite a quick 77 from Paul Stirling.

Ireland won the toss and chose to field after winning a low-scoring opener, and the early exchanges suggested another tough day for batting. Louren Steenkamp gloved a short ball from Byron McDonough in the second over while Michael van Lingen edged Curtis Campher to Stirling in the 11th to leave Namibia on 49-2.

Frylinck and Erasmus rebuilt carefully against some tight spin bowling, adding 117 off 135 for the third wicket before Frylinck, who hit 6 fours and 2 sixes, holed out to deep midwicket off leg-spinner Gavin Hoey in the 33rd over. Hoey also removed Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton and Zane Green with top-edged sweeps, both caught by Stirling at short fine leg, to finish with 3 for 53.

But Erasmus, who reached his fifty off 62 balls, was building towards a late assault. He reached his third ODI hundred off 108 balls in the 46th over and then needed only 17 more to add 56. Ireland’s seamers were punished as Namibia scored 111 in the last 10 overs, including 79 in the last five.

Campher’s ninth over cost 19 and McDonough’s went for 19 as well while Alexander Volschenk chipped in with 30 off 20 balls before he was caught in the final over. Ireland’s openers put on 54 before Andrew Balbirnie was run out for 22. Stirling, dropped twice in the deep and at point, reached his second successive fifty and took the score to 98/1.

Then Ireland lost four wickets for 27 runs. Max Heingo bowled Cade Carmichael, Loftie-Eaton beat Harry Tector with a leg-break that hit off stump and Brassell had Tucker caught for a duck before trapping Stirling lbw for 77 to leave Ireland 125/5 in the 25th over. George Dockrell, struck on the helmet by Brassell soon after arriving, and Campher rebuilt with a stand of 85.

Brassell broke it when Campher was caught behind for 45. Dockrell fell for 48 two overs later to another close call and Andy McBrine was run out for seven. But, Ireland were still not done.

Hoey hit three sixes in his 31 off 21 balls and added 57 for the ninth wicket with Jai Moondra, bringing the target down to 34 off the last 18 balls. Erasmus brought himself back and ended the game in the 48th over, taking a return catch to dismiss Moondra and then having Hoey caught at short fine leg.

Brief Scores : Namibia 321/6 (Gerhard Erasmus 156*; Gavin Hoey 3-53) beat Ireland 290 all out in 47.3 overs (Paul Stirling 77; Jack Brassell 4-52) by 31 runs