West Indies Women secured their three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe with a commanding eight-wicket win in the second match at Harare, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead. The victory was largely driven by a dominant display from Eboni Brathwaite, who blasted a 23-ball 57, and an incisive bowling effort by Jahzara Claxton, who claimed 3 for 14.
Zimbabwe struggled to generate pace after being sent in to bat. Despite a stable 46-run opening partnership between Kelis Ndhlovu and Beloved Biza that lasted 8.2 overs, the innings lost momentum following Ndhlovu’s dismissal. Biza eventually fell for a run-a-ball 35 in the 13th over, with Claxton claiming a second scalp on the very next delivery to dismiss Christine Mutasa for a duck. Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano provided some resistance with a 28-ball 25, but the hosts failed to accelerate in the death overs, eventually closing at 106 for 7. Claxton returned to remove captain Josephine Nkomo during the final over to cap off her economical two-over spell. But Zimbabwe could not find the acceleration they needed in the latter stages, chipo Mugeri-Tiripano held the innings together with 25 off 28.
In response, the West Indies chase was ruthless from the onset. Although they lost an early wicket, Brathwaite dominated the proceedings, reaching her fifty in just 20 balls. Her blistering innings featured three fours and six sixes, pushing the visitors to 69 runs within the Powerplay period alone. Even after Brathwaite’s departure at the end of the sixth over, the pressure remained constant as Realeanna Grimmond contributed an unbeaten 23 off 16 balls, including two sixes.
Stafanie Taylor ultimately struck a boundary to complete the chase in just 9.1 overs, finishing the match with 65 balls to spare. Brief scores: Zimbabwe 106/7 (Beloved Biza 35; Jahzara Claxton 3-14) lost to West Indies 108/2 (Eboni Brathwaite 57, Realeanna Grimmond 23*) by eight wickets.
