Sport

Ireland close in on another comprehensive win over Namibia

Tim Murtagh’s four wickets puts side in strong position going into final day

Tim Murtagh took four wickets to help Ireland move in on victory against Namibia in their Intercontinental Cup game in Windhiek. Photograph: Barry Chambers/Inpho
Tim Murtagh took four wickets to help Ireland move in on victory against Namibia in their Intercontinental Cup game in Windhiek. Photograph: Barry Chambers/Inpho
Mon Oct 26 2015 - 20:22

Ireland closed in on a second straight innings victory on day three of their Intercontinental Cup clash in Windhoek on Monday.

William Porterfield’s side finished the third day needing to take three wickets to secure a second comprehensive win in the tournament, with Namibia still needing to score 146 runs just to make Ireland bat for a second time in the match.

On a day when the when the mercury threatened 100 Fahrenheit at the Windhoek Country Club, Ireland resumed on 402 for three before eventually declaring their innings half an hour after lunch with the scoreboard reading 570 for six, a lead of 319 runs.

Porterfield resumed on 153 not out and went on to pass his previous international best of 166, made against Bermuda, but he fell short of becoming Ireland’s second double centurion of the innings following Ed Joyce’s brilliant knock on Sunday, when he holed out at mid-off for 186 to leave Ireland on 461 for five.

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The experienced pair of John Mooney (53 not out ) and Kevin O'Brien (45 not out ) added an unbroken 97 for the seventh wicket before the declaration came.

Playing his third match in the competition, Middlesex opening bowler Tim Murtagh struck three times in 16 deliveries with the new ball to remove Namibia's top three batsmen in the order, while Craig Young in his third over as the African side were reduced to 12 for four in the seventh over.

First innings top scorer JP Kotze (48) again held up the Irish charge, as he and Sarel Burger (34) added 68 for the fifth wicket.

Paul Stirling broke the stubborn stand when he had Burger caught behind by Niall O'Brien. Murtagh then returned to have Kotze caught at short-midwicket by George Dockrell, his figures at that stage four for seven in eight overs.

Dockrell then claimed the wicket of the experienced Gerrie Snyman (31) and at 130 for seven , it looked as if the victory would be achieved with three days.

However the Namibian late order rallied with Zac Green (22no) and JJ Smit (21no) seeing their side through to the end of the day, batting 18 overs in total before bad light took the teams off the field.