The second T20I of the West Indies Women tour of Zimbabwe at Harare delivered a dominant performance by the visitors, who sealed an emphatic 8-wicket victory with 65 balls remaining. The victory was driven by a disciplined bowling effort followed by an explosive batting display during the run chase.
Choosing to bat first, Zimbabwe Women looked to lay a strong foundation through openers Kelis Ndhlovu and Beloved Biza. The duo negotiated the initial overs against West Indies’ opening attack consisting of Shawnisha Hector (0/12 in 2 overs) and Chinelle Henry (0/8 in 2 overs). They successfully navigated the powerplay overs without losing a wicket, posting 35 runs. Together, Ndhlovu and Biza put on an opening partnership of 46 runs.
The breakthrough finally came in the 9th over (8.2 overs) when leg-spinner Afy Fletcher trapped Kelis Ndhlovu lbw for 25 off 28 balls (2 fours, 1 six). Beloved Biza was joined by Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, and the pair steadied the innings, taking the host nation past 50 runs in 8.4 overs. By the halfway mark at 10.0 overs, Zimbabwe sat at 61/1. Biza went on to score 35 off 35 deliveries (3 fours) before falling in the 13th over (12.3 overs), caught by keeper Mandy Mangru off Jahzara Claxton.
Claxton struck again on the very next ball (12.4 overs), dismissing Christine Mutasa lbw for a golden duck (0 off 1 ball) to leave Zimbabwe struggling at 78/3. Nyasha Gwanzura (8 off 13 balls) joined Mugeri-Tiripano to construct an 11-run stand before Stafanie Taylor caught Gwanzura off her own bowling via a catch to keeper Mangru at 89/4 in the 16th over (15.5 overs).
With the lower middle-order exposed, Chiedza Dhururu managed 3 off 5 balls before being run out by Chinelle Henry and Karishma Ramharack with the score at 95/5 in 17.3 overs. Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano held one end up with 25 off 28 balls (2 fours) before being run out by Realeanna Grimmond and Mandy Mangru at 104/6 in the penultimate over (19.3 overs).
Skipper Josephine Nkomo managed just 1 off 2 balls before falling caught by Fletcher off Claxton at 106/7 (20 overs). Modester Mupachikwa remained unbeaten on 7 off 8 balls as Zimbabwe Women completed their allotted 20 overs at 106/7.
For West Indies Women, Jahzara Claxton was the standout bowler, taking 3/14 in her 2 overs. Afy Fletcher (1/19 in 4 overs) and Stafanie Taylor (1/12 in 3 overs) kept tight control. Karishma Ramharack (0/26 in 4 overs) and Aaliyah Alleyne (0/14 in 3 overs) also contributed effectively with the ball.
Chasing a target of 107 runs, West Indies Women came out with aggressive intent. Opener Eboni Brathwaite launched a fierce assault alongside Jahzara Claxton. The opening partnership accumulated 27 runs in under 3 overs before Kudzai Chigora bowled Claxton for 4 off 10 balls at 2.6 overs.
Realeanna Grimmond joined Brathwaite, and the duo dismantled the Zimbabwean bowling attack in a blistering 42-run partnership off just 17 balls. Brathwaite reached a blistering half-century, smashing 57 off just 23 balls, including 3 fours and 6 sixes at a strike rate of 247.82, before falling caught by Mugeri-Tiripano off Christine Mutasa at 69/2 in 5.5 overs.
Veteran Stafanie Taylor joined Grimmond to comfortably finish the chase. Grimmond remained unbeaten on 23 off 16 balls (2 fours, 2 sixes), while Taylor contributed an unbeaten 9 off 9 balls (2 fours). West Indies Women comfortably reached 108/2 in just 9.1 overs (at an economy rate of 11.78), wrapping up the game in clinical style.
The Zimbabwean bowling attack found little joy against the Windies batters. Kudzai Chigora was the most successful bowler with figures of 1/36 in 4 overs, while Christine Mutasa claimed 1/15 in 1.1 overs. Nomvelo Sibanda (0/16 in 1 over), Nyasha Gwanzura (0/28 in 2 overs), and Loryn Phiri (0/13 in 1 over) struggled to stem the run flow as the visitors wrapped up a comprehensive win.
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