Ireland open their five-match ODI series in Namibia with a commanding 55-run victory, led by Stirling's 56.
Namibia's home ODI series against Ireland began with a setback. The visitors took the opener by 55 runs, a comfortable margin that puts the Namibians on the back foot early in a five-match battle.
Stirling set the standard for Ireland with a 56. His innings gave the visitors a platform that Namibia could not dismantle, and the result never looked in serious doubt once the Irish had control.
For Namibia, the challenge now is to regroup quickly. Five games leave plenty of room for a fightback, but the hosts will need to tighten up and make Ireland work harder if they want to turn the series around.
A series like this is also valuable for Namibia, who get to test themselves against international opposition on home soil. Africa's cricket fans will be watching to see whether the hosts can bounce back in the next game.
