Moondra's six wickets level Ireland's series against Namibia

Ireland beat Namibia by 130 runs in the fourth one-day international in Windhoek, levelling the five-match series at 2-2.

An ODI, or one-day international, gives each side one innings of 50 overs, which is 300 balls. Ireland made 298 for 8 in their innings. BBC Sport reports that Namibia replied with 168 in 41 overs, and the margin was decided there.

The match turned on Jai Moondra. He took 6 wickets for 26 runs, and the BBC reports those figures as the best by an Ireland bowler in ODI cricket. The previous best was Josh Little's 6 for 36 against Zimbabwe in 2023. Three days earlier in the same series, Moondra had taken one wicket for 49 runs from 10 overs, so the turnaround was sharp.

Ireland's batting carried them to a total that Namibia could not chase. Tim Tector scored 73 off 81 balls on his ODI debut. Curtis Campher hit 66 off 50 balls, and his quick innings kept the scoreboard moving in the closing overs.

Paul Stirling, Ireland's regular captain, missed the rest of the series after breaking a finger in the third game. Lorcan Tucker stood in as captain. He lost the toss and Ireland batted first, and the side then went on to win the match.

The series has swung back and forth. Ireland won the first ODI in Windhoek by 55 runs on 22 October. Namibia took the second by 31 runs on 24 October, and then the third by 63 runs on 27 October. Ireland's win in the fourth match brought the teams level.

The fifth and deciding ODI is scheduled for Sunday. Whoever wins it takes the series outright, so a 2-2 scoreline means one more match to settle it.