Brathwaite blitz clinches T20I series for West Indies Women

West Indies cruise to eight-wicket win in Harare

West Indies Women sealed the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe 2-0 with an emphatic eight-wicket win in the second T20I in Harare, finishing the chase with 65 balls to spare.

Zimbabwe were put in to bat first and made a steady start through openers Kelis Ndhlovu and Beloved Biza, who added 46 for the first wicket in 8.2 overs. The innings lost momentum after Ndhlovu’s dismissal.

Biza was run out for a run-a-ball 35 in the 13th over and Claxton struck with the very next ball to remove Christine Mutasa for a duck. Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano held the innings together with 25 off 28, but Zimbabwe could not accelerate in the death overs.

Claxton returned in the final over to dismiss captain Josephine Nkomo and finished with 3 for 14 from two overs. Zimbabwe ended on 106 for 7 from their 20 overs.

Brathwaite powers record Powerplay

West Indies made a mockery of the target almost immediately. Jahzara Claxton fell early, but Eboni Brathwaite took charge, bringing up her fifty in just 20 balls.

The opener struck three fours and six sixes in an innings that lasted only 23 balls for 57, propelling West Indies to 69 in the Powerplay.

Even after Brathwaite fell for 57 at the end of the sixth over, Zimbabwe had no respite. Realeanna Grimmond carried on the attack with an unbeaten 23 off 16 balls, including two sixes, while Stafanie Taylor finished the chase with a boundary.

West Indies reached 108 for 2 in 9.1 overs, winning by eight wickets.

Brief scores: Zimbabwe 106/7 in 20 overs (Beloved Biza 35; Jahzara Claxton 3-14) lost to West Indies 108/2 in 9.1 overs (Eboni Brathwaite 57, Realeanna Grimmond 23*) by eight wickets.