Brathwaite blitz seals T20I Series for West Indies Women
Key Points(5)
- Eboni Brathwaite produced a breathtaking 23-ball assault and Jahzara Claxton claimed three wickets as West Indies Women dismantled Zimbabwe by eight wickets in the second T20I in Harare on Sunday, securing the three-match series 2-0 with one game remaining.
- Chasing just 107, West Indies needed only 9.1 overs to reach 108 for 2, leaving Zimbabwe with little opportunity to mount a challenge.
- The emphatic victory came with 65 balls remaining.
- Brathwaite turns on the power Brathwaite set the tone from the outset, racing to her half-century from only 20 deliveries as West Indies piled up 69 runs during the Powerplay.
- Her innings featured three fours and six sixes before she finally fell for 57 at the end of the sixth over.
Eboni Brathwaite produced a breathtaking 23-ball assault and Jahzara Claxton claimed three wickets as West Indies Women dismantled Zimbabwe by eight wickets in the second T20I in Harare on Sunday, securing the three-match series 2-0 with one game remaining.
Chasing just 107, West Indies needed only 9.1 overs to reach 108 for 2, leaving Zimbabwe with little opportunity to mount a challenge. The emphatic victory came with 65 balls remaining.
Brathwaite turns on the power
Brathwaite set the tone from the outset, racing to her half-century from only 20 deliveries as West Indies piled up 69 runs during the Powerplay.
Her innings featured three fours and six sixes before she finally fell for 57 at the end of the sixth over.
By then, however, the contest was effectively over.
Realeanna Grimmond continued the assault with an unbeaten 23 from 16 balls, including two sixes, before Stafanie Taylor sealed the victory with a boundary.
Claxton breaks Zimbabwe’s momentum
Zimbabwe had initially appeared well placed after being sent in, with Kelis Ndhlovu and Beloved Biza combining for 46 during the opening 8.2 overs.
The dismissal of Ndhlovu changed the rhythm of the innings, and Zimbabwe struggled to maintain its early momentum.
Biza eventually departed for a run-a-ball 35 in the 13th over, and Claxton struck again with the very next delivery to dismiss Christine Mutasa without scoring.
Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano offered some resistance with 25 from 28 balls, but Zimbabwe could not produce the late acceleration needed to establish a challenging total.
Claxton returned in the final over to remove captain Josephine Nkomo and completed an impressive spell of 3 for 14 from two overs.
Zimbabwe finished on 106 for 7.
Series safely secured
West Indies then completed the job with ruthless efficiency, turning a modest target into a one-sided contest.
The eight-wicket victory gave the visitors an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, with the final T20I now serving as Zimbabwe’s opportunity to salvage a match from the campaign.
For West Indies Women, the second straight victory continued a dominant start to the series, highlighted by Brathwaite’s explosive batting and Claxton’s incisive bowling.
