Match

Ireland won by 55 runs

• Ireland: 229/9 (50 overs)
• Namibia: 174/10 (37.5 overs)

Ireland - 229/9 (50 overs)

Extras: 17

Namibia - 174/10 (37.5 overs)

Extras: 11

Commentary

• So, that's it from our side. Namibia's death bowling was superb and it looked like they will make a match of it. But, their inexperience with the bat at the highest level showed. They chanced their arms one too many times when the need of the hour was largely to milk the ball around. Ireland would be pleased especially with the fact that they defended 229 without breaking a sweat. Join us for the 2nd ODI from the Namibia Cricket Ground day after tomorrow. Until next time, goodbye and cheers!
• Stirling (2/2): (On what stood out for him today apart from Gavin's bowling) Yeah, well, Gavin was top class. I think a lot of learning really stood out. I think we can get better in each facet. I think with the direct hits, we could hit a couple; there would have been an extra run out or two. I think we were a little bit loose with the new ball. We weren't accurate enough. I think in these conditions, it brings the sides closer together, and you've got to really be accurate, which isn't something that we speak about that often. It's actually been more about threatening and taking wickets and imposing ourselves, but actually here accuracy is really key, and I thought that's what Namibia showed really, really well. I think that was their strength. They didn't miss much. Their line and length was pretty darn good for most of the innings, and we found it tough, and actually they reaped their rewards in the last ten overs instead of possibly up front.
• Paul Stirling | Ireland captain (1/1): (On his assessment of their win) Yeah, pretty happy to get the result, to be honest. I thought losing the toss, potentially with the local knowledge, maybe bowling first might have been the right way to go, but I think it turned out to be the other way. It looked like it got a little bit trickier. We certainly were surprised by the balls that sort of went up and down a little bit, especially from the far end. But yeah, delighted to come over to Namibia, play a team that knows the conditions well, and come out with a win. We're pretty delighted. (On their batters getting good starts but struggling to finish off) Yeah, I think so. I think we'll certainly review that and ask why we weren't able to get a sort of 250 minimum and maybe even push the 270 mark. And I think if we had got those scores, you know, the result would have been heavily in our favour, whereas actually 230, I think, was maybe more in Namibia's favour, and we needed to take those ten wickets. And I think that's what I'm really pleased about today, is that we were able to take wickets consistently and get in a position where there was no death overs in our innings. So happy with that.
• Erasmus (2/2): Yeah, and then obviously with a new ball, I thought both teams sort of missed their mark and gave the opposition that powerplay start. So we want to clean that up, but those guys have been in phenomenal form. The batters have been in really good form in the top four, scoring big partnerships. Fortunately, today we didn't quite play that situation and that particular pitch very well. There was obviously a lot of variable bounce, but with a good outfield, I think there was still enough value for shots and for bad balls to get put to the boundary and the fielders to get put under pressure. Unfortunately, we just sort of allowed the leggie into the game, and then we were always under pressure against the rest of the guys. Trumpelmann showed the way to bat, maybe hitting a bit harder straight and putting some pressure back onto the bowler allows them to bowl outside those areas that sort of go up and down. So there's lots to learn for the next game, but we've been playing some good cricket.
• Gerhard Erasmus | Namibia captain (1/1): (On his assessment on falling 55 runs short on a seemingly good wicket) Yeah, I felt obviously delighted to be in a winning position after the powerplay. I thought, you know, if we're 50-odd for one, chasing 230 on a very quick outfield, yes, there may be a couple of balls that stayed low and, you know, sort of bounced, but I think you're in a position then to go on and win the game. Unfortunately, we allowed the spinners to bowl a bit. We allowed the leggie into the game, picking up his first wicket, obviously off a bit of a drag down, and just sort of sloped a little bit down from then on. (On the positives) Trumpy's, we all know he can bat. He says he wants to bat higher, and when he bats like that, obviously everyone wants to back him and push it up. So delighted for him to again get runs and for Nicol (Loftie-Eaton) to bowl a real good spell for us. (On the key learnings from this match) I think if you're in control of an ODI, it's an international game, you obviously got to take a bit of accountability for your actions and for the team's win. So obviously, in terms of a batting unit, we want to push a bit longer in our innings.
• Gavin Hoey | Player of the Match: (On their brilliant outing) We're first of all delighted with the win to start off the series, and we hope to go on like that. (On his mindset during his spell) I wouldn't call it a consistent purchase, but there was definitely something in it for the spinners in the first innings so I was hopeful that if I got it in the right areas, that there would be something there for me. (On gaining good momentum from this game) Yeah, if the pitch plays similarly, I think we'll learn a lot from this game. Delighted to get a win on the first day.
• 16:11 Local Time, 14:11 GMT, 19:41 IST: It's a convincing victory for Ireland on a two-paced surface! Earlier in the game, Ireland had got off to a good start courtesy Stirling and Balbirnie after being put into bat. Stirling struck a fifty but once he fell, the visitors lost their way. Namibia kept chipping away at the wickets at regular intervals. Loftie-Eaton picked up a superb 4-fer which enabled the hosts to restrict the visitors to 229. It was still going to be a challenge for Namibia though on this tricky surface. Their openers started off decently but both of them departed in quick succession which opened things up for the Irishmen. The Namibian batters didn't curb their natural strokeplay and paid the price. They kept falling like a pack of cards. Erasmus showed some resistance but once he was dismissed, Namibia's hopes almost extinguished. Trumpelmann down the order hit some lusty blows and gave his side a glimmer of hope but he kept running out of partners. He was dismissed next ball after scoring an entertaining fifty and that was it. Namibia's inexperience clearly showed in their gameplan as they were too expansive when they just needed to milk the ball around. The Irish bowlers capitalised on that and took their side home with consummate ease. Stick around for the presentations...
• 37.5: Liam McCarthy to Ruben Trumpelmann, out Bowled!! That's the final nail in the coffin! McCarthy finishes things off with a beauty! In the corridor of uncertainty, pitches and straightens to open Trumpelmann up in his stance. He is rooted to the crease as he tries to keep it out but gets beaten on the outside edge. The ball hits the top of off. Ireland take a 1-0 lead in the 5-match series. Ruben Trumpelmann b Liam McCarthy 50(43) [4s-4 6s-3]
• Liam McCarthy to Ruben Trumpelmann, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!
• 37.4: Liam McCarthy to Ruben Trumpelmann, FOUR, fifty for Trumpelmann! He has been quite superb. He has given a glimmer of hope to his side. He raises his bat and gets a good round of applause from his mates. Was a shortish delivery around off, sat up nicely for Trumpelmann. He stood tall and nailed the pull through mid-wicket to find the fence
• 37.3: Liam McCarthy to Ruben Trumpelmann, FOUR, crunched! A shortish delivery well outside off, Ruben Trumpelmann reaches out and flat-bats it powerfully past the right side of mid-off. The ball reaches the fence at the rate of knots
• 37.2: Liam McCarthy to Jack Brassell, 1 run, short of length outside off, Brassell punches it to deep cover to bring Ruben Trumpelmann back on strike
• Trumpelmann walks down the track to have a chat with Jack Brassell
• 37.1: Liam McCarthy to Ruben Trumpelmann, 1 run, shortish delivery on off, Trumpelmann pulls it down to long leg and takes the single
• Liam McCarthy [5.0-0-33-0] is back into the attack
• 36.6: Curtis Campher to Jack Brassell, no run, full just outside off, Brassell drives it back to Campher who makes a half-stop to parry it towards mid-off
• 36.5: Curtis Campher to Jack Brassell, no run, hard length delivery on off, Brassell hangs back and punches it to covers
• 36.4: Curtis Campher to Jack Brassell, no run, brilliantly bowled! A back of a length delivery on off, pitches and seams in sharply. Brassell pushes at it but gets beaten on the inside-edge and the ball flies over the stumps
• 36.3: Curtis Campher to Ruben Trumpelmann, 1 run, back of a length on middle and leg, Trumpelmann works it to long leg
• 36.2: Curtis Campher to Jack Brassell, 1 run, Brassell hangs back to the length delivery and tucks it in front of square on the leg-side and the batters scamper across