Frylinck trumps Campher as Namibia take series lead
In a script similar to the second ODI, Namibia scored over 300 again and defended the total
In an encore of their performance in the second ODI, Namibia scored over 300 once again and successfully defended the total against Ireland to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match ODI series. Namibia, who made 321/6 in the second game, finished with 316/7 this time before bowling out Ireland for 253 in Windhoek. Having come much closer to the target last time, the tourists fell short by 63 runs, despite a fighting century from Curtis Campher.
Malan Kruger gave Namibia a decent start, but it was Gerhard Erasmus and Jan Frylinck who did the bulk of the scoring again. Erasmus had scored a mammoth ton in the last encounter with Frylinck chipping in with a half-century. On Tuesday (October 27), the roles reversed. Erasmus scored a brisk 51-ball 54 but Frylinck carried on further to register an excellent ton.
Frylinck was dismissed only in the penultimate over of Namibia's innings for 126, just before the hosts went past the 300-run mark. Alexander Volschenk chipped in with a crucial 26-ball 36 to provide firepower at the death for Namibia.
Chasing 317, Ireland made a disastrous start as Bernard Scholtz removed Cade Carmichael for a duck. The key trio of Andrew Balbirnie, Lorcan Tucker and Harry Tector failed to fire as well as Ireland lost their top 4 inside 13 overs. But just when the chips were down, Campher stepped up to provide the visitors some hope again.
After adding 61 for the fifth wicket, Campher was involved in a 86-run stand that briefly threatened Namibia in the run chase. While the home side found an opening when they broke the partnership with George Dockrell's wicket, Campher still kept going to bring up a stunning century. It was his dismissal with 71 runs still needed that finally ended Ireland's resistance as the tail caved in.
Brief scores: Namibia 316/7 in 50 overs (Jan Frylinck 126, Gerhard Erasmus 56) beat Ireland 253 in 44.5 overs (Curtis Campher 106; Bernard Scholtz 2-31) by 63 runs
