ODI

NAM vs IRE 2nd ODI 2026: Erasmus 156*, Namibia Win by 31

Published on October 24, 2026

Summary Overview: Namibia beat Ireland by 31 runs in the 2nd ODI in Windhoek to level the five-match series 1-1. Captain Gerhard Erasmus hit 156 not out off 125 balls and took 2 for 13 to be Player of the Match, and Jack Brassell took 4 for 52.

Who won? Namibia, by 31 runs at the Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek. They made 321 for 6, and Ireland were bowled out for 290 in 47.3 overs.

Who starred? Captain Gerhard Erasmus hit 156 not out off 125 balls, with 14 fours and four sixes, then took 2 for 13 with the ball. He was named Player of the Match. Left-arm seamer Jack Brassell took 4 for 52.

What about Ireland? Captain Paul Stirling made 77 off 71, and George Dockrell (48) and Curtis Campher (45) fought hard, but Ireland lost wickets in clusters.

What does it mean? The five-match series is level at 1-1 after Ireland won the first game by 55 runs.

Match Report: Erasmus Leads From the Front

For readers new to cricket: in a One Day International (ODI), each team bats for up to 50 overs (an over is six legal deliveries). A team wins by runs when it bats first and the other side cannot reach its total.

Namibia's Innings: Erasmus and Frylinck Build, Then the Finish

Ireland captain Paul Stirling won the toss and chose to bowl. Byron McDonough struck with his first ball, removing Louren Steenkamp for 0, and Curtis Campher had Michael van Lingen caught for 22. Namibia were 49 for 2 in the 11th over.

Gerhard Erasmus and Jan Frylinck then took control with a stand of 117 off 135 balls. Frylinck made 76 off 90 before Gavin Hoey removed him, and Hoey struck twice more, removing Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton and Zane Green. At 225 for 5 in the 43rd over, Namibia were set for around 280.

Instead, Erasmus and Alexander Volschenk (30 off 20) smashed 92 off just 40 balls. Namibia scored 96 runs in the last 44 balls of the innings, and Erasmus finished on 156 not out, taking Namibia to 321 for 6.

Ireland's Chase: Stirling Starts Well, Brassell Strikes

Stirling led the reply with 77 off 71 balls, with eight fours and three sixes. Ireland were 98 for 1 in the 19th over and very much in the chase.

Then they lost four wickets for 27 runs. Max Heingo bowled Cade Carmichael, Loftie-Eaton bowled Harry Tector, and Jack Brassell removed Lorcan Tucker for 0 and then Stirling lbw. Ireland were 125 for 5.

Campher and Dockrell added 85 to bring Ireland back into it, but Brassell had both caught behind by Green, and Andy McBrine was run out. At 231 for 8, the game was almost over. Gavin Hoey (31 off 21, three sixes) and Jai Moondra (20) added 58 to make Namibia nervous, before Erasmus removed both to finish the match.

Turning Point: 96 Runs in 44 Balls

At 225 for 5 after 42.4 overs, Ireland had pulled things back with three quick wickets. The stand of 92 off 40 balls between Erasmus and Volschenk changed the game, turning a par score into 321. Ireland made 290, so those final overs proved decisive.

Stat Corner

Top Performers

Player	Team	Performance
Gerhard Erasmus (c)	Namibia	*156 (125), 14 fours, 4 sixes, and 2 for 13**, Player of the Match
Jack Brassell	Namibia	4 for 52 (10 overs)
Jan Frylinck	Namibia	76 (90), 6 fours, 2 sixes
Alexander Volschenk	Namibia	30 (20), 3 fours, 1 six
Paul Stirling (c)	Ireland	77 (71), 8 fours, 3 sixes
George Dockrell	Ireland	48 (48), 5 fours, 2 sixes
Curtis Campher	Ireland	45 (45), and 1 for 74
Gavin Hoey	Ireland	3 for 53 (10 overs), and 31 (21), 3 sixes

* not out

How the Game Turned

Moment	Score
McDonough's first-ball strike	Namibia 4 for 1 (1.1 overs)
Erasmus and Frylinck stand	117 off 135 balls for the 3rd wicket
Hoey's three wickets	Namibia 166 for 2 to 225 for 5
Erasmus and Volschenk stand	92 off 40 balls for the 6th wicket
Namibia final total	321 for 6 (50 overs)
Ireland well placed	98 for 1 (18.4 overs)
Four wickets for 27 runs	98 for 1 to 125 for 5
Campher and Dockrell stand	85 for the 6th wicket
Ireland all out	290 (47.3 overs)

Powerplay Comparison

Team	First 10 overs
Namibia	45 for 1
Ireland	48 for 0

Playing XIs

Team	Playing XI
Namibia	Michael van Lingen, Louren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Gerhard Erasmus (c), Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Alexander Volschenk, Zane Green (wk), JJ Smit, Ruben Trumpelmann, Max Heingo, Jack Brassell
Ireland	Paul Stirling (c), Andrew Balbirnie, Cade Carmichael, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Andy McBrine, Gavin Hoey, Jai Moondra, Byron McDonough

Changes: Namibia brought in Alexander Volschenk and Max Heingo for Waldo Smith and Bernard Scholtz. Ireland brought in Byron McDonough for Liam McCarthy.

Series So Far

Match	Venue	Result
1st ODI	High Performance Oval, Windhoek	Ireland won by 55 runs
2nd ODI	Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek	Namibia won by 31 runs

Series score: Namibia 1, Ireland 1.

What's Next

Match	Date	Venue	Local (CAT)	Ireland	IST	Pakistan	ET
3rd ODI	Tue, Oct 27	High Performance Oval, Windhoek	9:30 AM	7:30 AM	1:00 PM	12:30 PM	3:30 AM
4th ODI	Fri, Oct 30	Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek	9:30 AM	7:30 AM	1:00 PM	12:30 PM	3:30 AM
5th ODI	Sun, Nov 1	Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek	9:30 AM	7:30 AM	1:00 PM	12:30 PM	2:30 AM

Local time is Central Africa Time (CAT, UTC+2). Ireland moves to GMT on October 25. IST is India Standard Time (UTC+5:30). Pakistan is on PKT (UTC+5). ET is US Eastern Time: Daylight Time until November 1, then Standard Time. The original schedule listed 10:00 AM starts, but both games so far have begun at 9:30 AM, so the times above assume 9:30 AM. Check closer to each match.