Zimbabwe Women stun West Indies to level ODI series

After a crushing loss in the series opener, Zimbabwe Women made a remarkable turnaround by bowling West Indies out for 139 and winning the second one-day international by four wickets on Sunday at Harare Sports Club. 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 lost the first ODI by 99 runs due to Hayley Matthews' record-breaking 182, but when West Indies elected to bat, they responded with much better bowling. Even though Matthews made 26 off 35 balls, the loss of Realeanna Grimmond to the excellent Nyasha Gwanzura (4 for 33) sparked a collapse that left the visitors struggling at 68/5 with Francisca Chipare and Michelle Mavunga taking wickets.

In the 24th over, West Indies fell to 88 for 7 quickly, and veteran Stafanie Taylor needed to provide much-needed resistance to salvage the score. However, as Zimbabwe's bowlers continued to chip away, she received little support after that. After Taylor was run out for 47, West Indies were only able to reach 139 after a 26-run stand for the final wicket. With more than ten overs remaining, they were run out of the game.

Modester Mupachikwa provided the necessary stability for Zimbabwe's pursuit, which began cautiously. The keeper-bat shared a half-century opening partnership with Kelis Ndhlovu, making 38 out of 57 balls and hitting seven fours. Zimbabwe briefly faltered as Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano and Ndhlovu followed shortly after Mupachikwa's fall with the score at 67.

After scoring 100 in the 29th over, the hosts lost Beloved Biza and Chiedza Dhururu to fall to 105/5. With 35 runs still required, West Indies had an opportunity to put the chase under pressure.

However, Josephine Nkomo kept the innings together. The Zimbabwe captain scored 30 off 58 balls, absorbing the pressure and ensuring that the required rate never became an issue. Before she lost at 133, she formed a valuable partnership with Nyasha Gwanzura, but Zimbabwe were already within striking distance. On a great day for Gwanzura and her team, she added an unbeaten 18 to her four-fer.