NAM vs IRE Match

5:13 AM IST The Eagles circle - After a nervy start, Namibia have the upper hand in a series that has become a proper contest. Ireland won the opener, but the hosts have since won two in a row, and the fourth ODI in Windhoek on Friday gives them the chance to clinch the first-ever bilateral ODI series between the two sides with a game to spare. Ireland, on the other hand, are up against it, and they must win to stay in the series. Erasmus and Frylinck lead the charge - Namibia’s batting will again revolve around captain Gerhard Erasmus and Jan Frylinck, who have been the two biggest contributors in the last two games. Erasmus has shown he can anchor and accelerate, and Frylinck has found a gear that has taken the attack away from the bowlers. Malan Kruger and Alexander Volschenk have added the support, with Volschenk’s late hitting proving particularly valuable. The question is whether the top order can do its part, as Louren Steenkamp and Michael van Lingen have had starts without turning them into big scores. Namibia will also be aware that they struggled the one time they chased, in the opener, so batting first suits them well. The hosts seek early control - Namibia’s bowling attack has been less spectacular than the batting, but it has found ways to take wickets at key moments. Jack Brassell has been the standout with his ability to take wickets in clusters, while Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton has offered a different threat through the middle overs. JJ Smit and Ruben Trumpelmann share the new ball, and a breakthrough early on would take a lot of pressure off the rest of the attack. Gerhard Erasmus is also a handy option with his off-spin, and the captain has used himself well. Life without Stirling - Ireland will be without their talismanic skipper, Paul Stirling, who fractured the ring finger on his left hand while fielding in the last game. It comes as a major blow, because Stirling scored consecutive fifties in the first two games and was the glue in an Irish top order that has often been shaky. Tim Tector, the younger brother of Harry, has been drafted in as a replacement. In Stirling’s absence, the likes of Andy Balbirnie, Lorcan Tucker and Harry Tector will have to take up the responsibility and fill the void. Bowling attack under pressure - Ireland’s bowling has been under the pump, having conceded 300-plus in each of the last two games, and the challenge now is to find a way to rein in a Namibian line-up that is in full flow. Leggie Gavin Hoey has been the pick of the attack while Jai Moondra has been steady with the new ball. The likes of Curtis Campher, George Dockrell and Andy McBrine will also be crucial in the middle overs, where Namibia have tended to build their platforms. Form (Last 5 completed ODIs, most recent first) - NAM - WWLWW | IRE - LLWLL. What to expect? The surfaces have been decent for batting in this series, though at times the ball has held up in the pitch and made strokeplay harder. The one constant is that all three games have been won by the side batting first. Ireland have not managed to chase down a 300-plus total in either of the last two games, so if they win the toss, they could opt to put runs on the board. Will Namibia put the series to bed, or will Ireland take it to a decider? We shall find out.