Captain Matthews delivers as West Indies Women clinch Zimbabwe series
Key Points(5)
- Captain Hayley Matthews produced a magnificent 118 and Shemaine Campbelle added 96 as West Indies Women defeated Zimbabwe Women by 91 runs to clinch the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series 2-1 at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday.
- The victory completed a strong response from the visitors after they suffered a surprise defeat in the second match, with Matthews earning Player of the Match honors after leading the batting effort with an authoritative century.
- West Indies posted 271-5 from their 50 overs before restricting Zimbabwe to 180 in 47.3 overs.
- Matthews and Campbelle set the platform The West Indies innings suffered an early setback when Realeanna Grimmond fell for three, leaving the visitors at 38-1.
- That brought Matthews and Campbelle together, and the pair proceeded to take control.
Captain Hayley Matthews produced a magnificent 118 and Shemaine Campbelle added 96 as West Indies Women defeated Zimbabwe Women by 91 runs to clinch the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series 2-1 at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday.
The victory completed a strong response from the visitors after they suffered a surprise defeat in the second match, with Matthews earning Player of the Match honors after leading the batting effort with an authoritative century.
West Indies posted 271-5 from their 50 overs before restricting Zimbabwe to 180 in 47.3 overs.
Matthews and Campbelle set the platform
The West Indies innings suffered an early setback when Realeanna Grimmond fell for three, leaving the visitors at 38-1.
That brought Matthews and Campbelle together, and the pair proceeded to take control.
They added 160 for the second wicket, steadily breaking down the Zimbabwean attack while building the foundation for a challenging total.
Matthews paced her innings superbly, combining measured defense with aggressive stroke play. She struck 18 fours and a six during her 118 from 112 balls before she was caught off Nomvelo Sibanda.
Campbelle came agonizingly close to a century, making 96 before she was caught. Her innings included 13 fours.
Sibanda finished as Zimbabwe’s leading bowler with 2-42, while Beloved Biza also claimed two wickets.
Glasgow adds late momentum
With Matthews and Campbelle gone, West Indies still had enough power to finish strongly.
Jannillea Glasgow remained unbeaten on 26, while Jahzara Claxton contributed an unbeaten 11 as the visitors reached 271-5 from their allotted 50 overs.
It gave the bowlers a substantial total to defend and left Zimbabwe facing a demanding chase.
Zimbabwe slumps to 9-2
The West Indies attack immediately applied pressure.
Zimbabwe was reduced to 9-2 after Modester Mupachikwa was dismissed for four and Kelis Ndhlovu fell for two, leaving the hosts in serious trouble.
Captain Josephine Nkomo refused to surrender, however, producing a determined unbeaten 74.
But Nkomo lacked sustained support as wickets continued to fall around her. Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano provided the only meaningful assistance with 25.
Munisar leads ruthless bowling display
West Indies maintained control throughout the chase, with Ashmini Munisar leading the attack.
Munisar claimed 2-32 from her 10 overs, while Aaliyah Alleyne took 2-39 and Glasgow finished with 2-37.
Afy Fletcher added 1-32 and Zaida James returned 1-15 as Zimbabwe was eventually dismissed for 180 in 47.3 overs.
The 91-run victory secured the series 2-1 for West Indies, with Matthews’ commanding century providing the defining performance of the deciding match.
