Cricket / Ireland v Namibia:  Namibian all-rounder Kola Burger is the only man who stands between Ireland and certain victory in the InterContinental Cup as they go into the final day in Castle Avenue today.

When the burly 26-year-old from the town of Swakopmund on the southwest African coast strode to the wicket, his side were in serious trouble at 57 for 7 in their second innings, still 21 runs behind Ireland's first innings score of 173.

By the time rain called a premature end to the day's play, Burger had hit an unbeaten 42 off 21 balls, giving his side a 31-run lead and just a glimmer of hope as they seek to save, or even win, this game.

In the first innings Burger smashed 39 off 20 balls, including four sixes, and this time the Irish fielders were waiting for him, with six of them on the boundary. Undeterred, Burger repeatedly sent the ball over their heads, and if he sticks around in the morning it won't take long for him to compile a big, big score.

Resuming yesterday morning at 78 for 3, having bowled Namibia out for 95 on Thursday, Ireland were far from convincing in what were trying conditions for batsmen. They lost Eoin Morgan and Peter Gillespie in the first over of the day and Dominick Joyce and Kyle McCallan shortly afterwards to leave them struggling at 87 for 7.

On a green wicket and in weather conditions conducive to swing and seam bowling, Ireland's top order failed to dig in and manufacture partnerships.

To be fair, the Namibians bowled well, particularly Ian van Zyl, who ended with excellent figures of 8 for 34 off 19.5 overs, a record for any bowler in the InterContinental Cup.

Only Trent Johnston saved Ireland's blushes as the home side threatened to capitulate. The all-rounder who, the day before, had taken a career best 6-23, made a composed and patient 71, putting together a crucial 10th-wicket partnership of 58 with the ever-dependable Paul Mooney.

Normally a free-flowing batsman, Johnston faced 121 balls in his innings, demonstrating his ability to adapt his game as the need arises. His contribution to this game has been immense.

It meant the Irish got to a respectable 173 all out, registering an innings lead of 78, which, in the circumstances, was not insubstantial.

Just as in their heavy defeat to Scotland in Aberdeen last week, Namibia have showed no stickability while batting here and look a long way off this grade. It should be pointed out, however, that their players are used to batting on the hard, flat and dry wickets of Windhoek, so a Castle Avenue green-top in May is an understandable challenge.

Either way, when they came out to bat for the second time in this match, there soon began a steady procession of forlorn batsmen back to the pavilion.

Mooney took the early wicket of Dawid Botha, and then he clean-bowled Sorel Burger for his 100th wicket in Irish colours, breaking Burger's middle stump in the process. The damaged stick should make a nice trophy for the Mooney family mantelpiece. But why the North County seamer was given only three overs in the day it not so obvious.

Namibia crumbled to 22 for 6 before there was a semblance of a partnership. Hugo Ludik and Louis van der Westhuizen had put on 35 when van der Westhuizen hit a rank long hop from McCallan straight to Jeremy Bray at short cover.

This brought Kola Burger to the wicket to smash the ball to all corners of this Castle Avenue ground and beyond before the rain came to put an end, albeit temporarily, to his fun.

If Ireland can dismiss him first thing this morning they should win this game comfortably, but if he can stay there for an hour or more, Namibia could yet post a tricky total for Ireland to chase.

Play begins at 10.30am.

Overnight: Namibia 95 all out (K Burger 39; T Johnston 6-23) Ireland 78 for 3 (A Botha 34, E Morgan 23 not out, D Joyce 8 not out)

IRELAND - FIRST INNINGS, CONTINUED

E Morgan c D Botha b van Zyl 23

D Joyce c Scholtz b van Zyl 9

P Gillespie b van Zyl 0

T Johnston c vd Westhuizen b van Zyl 71

K McCallan lbw van Zyl 0

G Wilson lbw van Zyl 4

P Mooney not out 12

D Langford-Smith b van Zyl 0

Extras (1b, 5lb, 1w) 7

Total (all out, 65.5 overs) ... 173

Fall of wickets: 1, 16, 69, 78, 78, 87, 87, 115, 173.

Bowling: K Burger 16-2-46-2, van Zyl 19.5-7-34-8, S Burger 18-6-53-0, D Kotze 4-1-10-0, B Kotze 8-2-24-0.

NAMIBIA - SECOND INNINGS

S Swanepoel c Wilson b Johnston 0

D Botha lbw Mooney 4

S Burger b Mooney 6

B Kotze c McCallan b Langford-Smith 3

D Kotze c Botha b Johnston 3

H Prinsloo run out 1

H Ludik not out 16

L van der Westhuizen c Bray b McCallan20

K Burger not out 42

Extras (6b, 3lb, 1w, 4nb) 14

Total (for 7, 34 overs) ... 109

Fall of wickets: 5, 9, 13, 18, 19, 22, 57.

To bat: N Scholtz, M van Zyl.

Bowling: Johnston 9-5-12-2, Mooney 3-0-11-2, Langford-Smith 7-1-12-1, Botha 8-2-17-0, Bray 3-1-3-0, McCallan 4-0-45-1.

Rain stopped play, Namibia lead by 31 runs