By Tapiwa Chawagarira
HARARE — West Indies Women wrapped up the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe Women with a game to spare after cruising to an emphatic eight-wicket victory in the second match at Takashinga Sports Club.
The result gave the visitors an unassailable 2-0 lead, leaving Zimbabwe with only the third and final T20I to salvage some pride in the series.
Zimbabwe were sent in to bat after West Indies won the toss and managed 106 for seven in their allotted 20 overs, but the total proved far too modest as the visitors produced another dominant run chase.
Kelis Ndhlovu and Beloved Biza provided Zimbabwe with a promising start, putting on 46 runs for the opening wicket before the West Indies attack began to tighten the screws.
Biza top-scored with 35, while Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano contributed a fighting 25 off 28 deliveries as Zimbabwe struggled to accelerate during the latter stages of their innings.
Jahzara Claxton was the pick of the West Indies bowlers, claiming three wickets for 14 runs as Zimbabwe lost momentum after reaching 78 for one in the 13th over.
The West Indies response was devastating.
Teenage opener Eboni Brathwaite produced the innings of the match, smashing a breathtaking 57 off just 23 balls to put the chase beyond Zimbabwe’s reach.
Brathwaite’s whirlwind knock included three fours and six sixes, with the 17-year-old reaching her half-century from just 20 deliveries — the fastest fifty by a West Indies player in women’s T20I cricket.
The visitors raced to 50 inside four overs and eventually reached 108 for two in just 9.1 overs, completing victory with 65 balls to spare.
Realeanna Grimmond added an unbeaten 23 off 16 balls to ensure there was no late drama as West Indies comfortably secured their second successive eight-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the T20I series.
The result underlined the gulf between the two sides in the shortest format, with West Indies having also won the opening T20I by eight wickets after restricting Zimbabwe to 97 for nine.
Zimbabwe will now have to regroup quickly ahead of the third and final T20I, scheduled for Wednesday at Takashinga Sports Club, with the hosts looking to end the series on a winning note.
The T20I series forms part of the West Indies Women’s tour of Zimbabwe, which also includes a three-match ODI series. Zimbabwe managed to claim the second ODI by four wickets, although West Indies won the other two matches to take the ODI series 2-1.
