Day 3 - Close of Play Report

Ireland 134-1 (36 overs), (W Porterfield 34, N O'Brien 77*)

Ireland’s batsmen took the match by the scruff of the neck in the final session on Saturday, moving to within 67 of their 201-run winning target for the loss of just one wicket.

With seven sessions still left in a game in which the bowlers have largely been on top, openers William Porterfield and Niall O’Brien might reasonably have been expected to adopt a cautious approach.

Instead, they came out with all guns blazing, as if they were playing in a Twenty20 match, or as if they had seen a weather forecast suggesting two days of solid rain.

They belted 56 off the first eight overs, inducing the Namibian opening bowlers, Gerrie Snyman and Kola Burger, to switch ends in a vain attempt to staunch the flow of runs.

Porterfield’s first six scoring shots were all boundaries, while O’Brien typified the mood by pulling Snyman, who had dominated the Irish top order in the first innings, for six over midwicket.

Offspinner Deon Kotze was on by the ninth over and he, bowling in tandem with Louis Klazinga, managed to introduce some sanity into the proceedings. And it was Kotze who finally secured the breakthrough when Porterfield hit out once too often and was caught at deep mid-off for 34.

Alex Cusack picked things up where he had left off in the first innings, hitting Klazinga for two fours in the first over he faced, but he became more circumspect after that, lending support to O’Brien, who continued in aggressive mode.

O’Brien passed fifty for the fifth time for Ireland, and for the 21st time in first-class matches, off exactly 50 balls, and had reached 77, made off 94 balls with ten fours and a six, by close of play.

So 67 will be needed on the fourth morning of the match to give Ireland their third successive Intercontinental Cup victory, and a repeat of last month’s match in Windhoek, where they again overcame a first-innings deficit to secure an outright win.

Namibia, on the other hand, will desperately need quick wickets if they are to stage what would be a remarkable comeback.

Day 3 - Afternoon Session Report

Namibia 145 all out (62.3 overs), (A Burger 34, G Snyman 31, P Connell 4-36, B Rankin 3-39, A Botha 2-29)

The afternoon session saw Ireland come back strongly at Namibia, dismissing them for 145 leaving them with a victory target of 201.

If the morning had been short of drama, the afternoon more than made up for it, with 6 wickets falling and 83 runs scored in the 25.3 overs of play.

Boyd Rankin trapped Namibian skipper Louis Burger bang in front for just a single, and then ended the vigil of Jan-Berrie Burger, who had defied the Irish attack for 128 deliveries, scoring 34.

Gerrie Snyman, returning after retiring hurt with a blow to the nether regions, took a distinct liking to the left arm spin of Regan West, smashing him for a four and successive sixes, to break the shackles of the Irish attack.

However, just as he was threatening to take the game away from Ireland, his nemesis, Andre Botha, once again proved his undoing, as Snyman (31), edged him behind, giving Niall O'Brien his first victim of the match.

Peter Connell then got in on the act, having Deon Kotze lbw for 18, and then having the dangerous Kola Burger caught by Trent Johnston at slip for nought.

Tobias Verwey was the other wicket to fall - victim of a run out after both he and Bjorn Kotze had ended up at the one end, giving Kevin O'Brien the simplest of run outs.

Bjorn Kotze was left stranded on 17 not out, while the Irish seamers returned impressive figures. Peter Connell (4-36) was again the most successful, and was well supported by Boyd Rankin (3-39), and Andre Botha (2-29).

A target of 201 won't be easy, given that there is still plenty in the track for the seamers, and the added pressure of chasing in the final innings.

Once again, another crucial period of play lies in store - now, where have I heard that before?

Day 3 - Morning Session Report

Namibia 62-4, lead Ireland by 117 runs.

Namibia have still a slight advantage at lunch on the 3rd day of their Intercontinental Cup clash with Ireland. They are currently on 62-4, an overall lead of 117 runs, with 6 wickets remaining.

Given the importance of the session, it isn't perhaps surprising the attritional nature of the morning's proceedings, with just 48 runs added in 28 overs.

Namibia aren't going to give away their wickets cheaply, and are adopting a safety first approach, backed by their precious first innings lead of 55.

The two wickets to have fallen are those of  Sarel Burger (6), well caught by a diving William Porterfield at slip, off the bowling of Boyd Rankin, with no addition to the overnight score. Craig Williams went with the total on 43, cutting Andre Botha straight to a grateful Alex Cusack at point for 14.

Andries Burger has proved an immovable object thus far, scoring an obdurate, but crucial 29 not out from 115 deliveries. Pretty it certainly isn't, but absolutely priceless given the context of the match.

He's been joined by Louis Burger, who has just a single to his name from 23 balls faced.

Another pivotal session coming up in this entralling contest - just whose patience will crack first remains to be seen.