Day 1

Ireland will be the happier of the two teams despite a stubborn last wicket stand after the first day's play of their InterContinental Cup clash against Namibia in Windhoek.

Namibia finished the day on 250 for 9 - with number 11 Christopher Coombe's unbeaten 34 chiefly responsible for holding up Ireland's charge in the final hour of the day. Together with Bernard Scholtz (16*) the pair added an unbroken 48 after the hosts had been reduced to 202 for 9.

It was a steady bowling display by Ireland who stuck to their task well after losing the toss. Seamers Tim Murtagh (2-43), John Mooney (2-55), Kevin O'Brien (1-21), and Craig Young (1-63) took wickets at regular intervals to leave Namibia struggling on 82 for 5.

JP Kotze held the middle order together with a top score of 78 (152 balls, 11 fours), sharing half century stands with the experienced Gerrie Synman (22) and keeper Zane Green (28).

George Dockrell and Paul Stirling applied pressure, strangling the Namibian innings bowling a combined total of 37 overs for 63 runs. Indeed Stirling (1-13) at one stage had bowled seven consecutive maidens while taking the crucial wicket of Kotze.

Dockrell dismissed the obdurate Green to claim his 200th wicket for Ireland in all competitions - the 8th player to do so - and shortly after claimed the wicket of Smit to put his side well on top.

Namibia's late fightback will give them hope of staying in contention, but Ireland will be confident of building a strong lead when play resumes in Windhoek.

Day 2

ED Joyce and William Porterfield both scored centuries as Ireland completely dominated the second day of their InterContinental Cup clash with Namibia in Windhoek.

The pair shared a second wicket partnership of 326 in 404 balls - the second biggest in Irish history - with Joyce recording back-to-back double hundreds in the competition.

Ireland got their morning off to the perfect start with Craig Young (2-63) dismissing Chris Coombe for 34 - ending the stubborn last wicket stand of 49 with the 7th ball of the day.

Paul Stirling (15) hit three boundaries before edging Coombe behind with the total of 35, to give Namibia early hope. That hope was soon extinguished by a batting masterclass from Joyce and Porterfield.

The pair were rarely troubled throughout their massive partnership, with boundaries coming with increasing regularity.

Joyce reached his 7th hundred for Ireland from 124 balls (14 fours, 2 sixes), and accelerated taking just another 74 deliveries to reach 200 (25 fours, 6 sixes), striking one more boundary before being caught on the long-on boundary for 205.

No fewer than 140 of his 205 runs came in boundaries in an innings which will live long in the memory.

The total at that stage was 361 for 2, but as so often happens following such a lengthy partnership, Niall O'Brien perished first ball, edging Sarel Burger behind to Zane Green.

Skipper William Porterfield reached his 13th century for Ireland - another record - from 174 balls (15 fours, 1 six). He finished the day unbeaten on 153 striking many of his 17 boundaries with trademark drives through extra cover.

He and Gary Wilson (22*) have so far added for the fourth wicket to take Ireland's first innings lead to 151.

The Irish have already secured six points by virtue of the first innings lead, and will be keen on day three to extend that lead to around 300 before a mid-afternoon declaration.

Day 3

Tim Murtagh's new ball burst took Ireland to the brink of an innings victory, but a determined rear-guard action late in the evening by Namibia ensured their InterContinental Cup game went into a final day in Windhoek.

Middlesex seamer Murtagh dismissed Xander Pitchers (0), Stephan Baard (1), and Raymond van Schoor (1) to leave the Namibian second innings in tatters.

Craig Young also accounted for Ya France (6) as Namibia slumped to 12 for 4 resuming 319 runs behind Ireland's huge total of 570 for 6 declared.

First innings top scorer JP Kotze (48) again held up the Irish charge, as he and Sarel Burger (34) added 68 for the 5th wicket.

Paul Stirling (1-17) 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 were 4 for 7 in 8 overs.

Dockrell then claimed the wicket of the experienced Gerrie Snyman (31) and at 130 for 7, it looked as if the victory would be achieved with three days.

However the Namibian late order rallied with Zac Green (22*) and JJ Smit (21*) seeing their side through to the end of the day, batting 18 overs in total before bad light took the teams off the field during the extra 30 minutes claimed by the Irish.

Earlier resuming on 402 for 4, Ireland had lost Gary Wilson (25) early, but skipper William Porterfield and Stuart Poynter (33) added a further 56.

Porterfield looked destined to follow Ed Joyce and Eoin Morgan into the double hundred club, but after passing his highest first-class score was dismissed for 186.

The experienced pair of John Mooney (53*) and Kevin O'Brien (45*) added an unbroken 97 for the 7th wicket extending the Irish lead to 319 before the declaration came in the early afternoon.

Ireland will be confident of wrapping up the innings win which would see them on top of the table with maximum points from their opening two games in the competition.

Day 4

IRELAND moved to the top of the InterContinental Cup table after completing an innings win over Namibia in Windhoek.

The hosts' 8th wicket pair of JJ Smit and Zane Green had defied the Irish attack for 18 overs to take the game into a fourth day, and their resistance continued on the flnal morning.

They had extended their partnership to 80 in 201 balls when Paul Stirling (2-27) had Smit (45) well caught by skipper William Porterfield at silly mid-off.

George Dockrell (3-55) finished the game in the following over as he first had Zane Green (35) smartly caught by Ed Joyce at second slip, then trapped Christopher Coombe first ball as Namibia were dismissed for 212.

Next up for Ireland in the competition is an away game against Papua New Guinea in the New Year - most likely to be held in Australia.