Zimbabwe Women produced a stirring turnaround after a heavy defeat in the series opener, bowling West Indies out for 139 before completing a four-wicket win in the second ODI at Harare Sports Club on Sunday. The hosts got to the target with 55 balls to spare, registering their first win over West Indies and levelling the three-match contest 1-1.
The hosts had been beaten by 99 runs in the opening ODI courtesy of Hayley Matthews’ record-breaking 182, but responded with a much-improved bowling display after West Indies opted to bat. The visitors lost Realeanna Grimmond early and although Matthews made 26 off 35 balls, her dismissal to the excellent Nyasha Gwanzura (4 for 33) triggered a collapse that left the visitors struggling at 68/5 with Francisca Chipare and Michelle Mavunga active among the wickets.
West Indies soon slipped to 88 for 7 in the 24th over and veteran Stafanie Taylor needed to offer much-needed resistance to give the total some respectability. However, she found little support thereafter as Zimbabwe’s bowlers kept chipping away. Taylor was eventually dismissed for 47, and only a 26-run stand for the final wicket even took West Indies to 139. They were bowled out with more than 10 overs to spare.
Zimbabwe’s chase began cautiously, but Modester Mupachikwa provided the stability they needed. The keeper-bat made 38 off 57 balls, hitting seven fours, and shared a half-century opening partnership with Kelis Ndhlovu. Mupachikwa fell with the score on 67, and Zimbabwe briefly wobbled as Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano and Ndhlovu followed in quick succession.
The hosts reached 100 in the 29th over but then lost Beloved Biza and Chiedza Dhururu to leave themselves at 105/5. With 35 runs still required, West Indies had an opportunity to put the chase under pressure.
Josephine Nkomo, however, held the innings together. The Zimbabwe captain scored 30 off 58 balls, absorbing the pressure and ensuring that the required rate never became an issue. She added a valuable partnership with Nyasha Gwanzura before falling at 133, but by then Zimbabwe were within touching distance. Gwanzura added an unbeaten 18 to go with her four-fer on a great day for her and her team.
Brief scores: West Indies 139 in 39.3 overs (Stafanie Taylor 47; Nyasha Gwanzura 4-33, Michelle Mavunga 3-36, Francisca Chipare 2-16) lost to Zimbabwe 140/6 in 40.5 overs (Modester Mupachikwa 38, Josephine Nkomo 30, Kelis Ndhlovu 30; Ashmini Munisar 2-15) by four wickets
