KELIS Ndhlovu struck 63 from 48 balls to give Zimbabwe Women a competitive 142 for six, but Stafanie Taylor’s commanding all round performance carried West Indies to an eight wicket victory in the opening T20I.
Ndhlovu hit six fours and three sixes in an innings that accounted for almost half of Zimbabwe’s runs from the bat. She remained at the crease until the 19th over, giving the hosts a platform after the middle order struggled to score freely.
Beloved Biza had provided the early impetus, striking four boundaries in 21 from 16 balls before Shawnisha Hector removed her at 27 for one after 3.4 overs.
Chipo Mugeri Tiripano made seven from 12 before Taylor had her stumped, leaving Zimbabwe 40 for two in the seventh over.
Ndhlovu then added 39 for the third wicket with Chiedza Dhururu. The partnership stabilised the innings, although Dhururu found scoring difficult and made nine from 20 balls before Taylor trapped her lbw.
Nyasha Gwanzura’s dismissal for three left Zimbabwe 90 for four after 14.4 overs, with just 32 balls remaining to lift the total.
Zimbabwe responded by scoring 52 from those final 32 deliveries.
Christina Mutasa played an important part in the late acceleration, striking three fours in an unbeaten 24 from 19 balls. Ndhlovu continued attacking at the other end until she was caught off Jahzara Claxton for 63 with eight balls remaining.
Mitchel Mavunga then cleared the boundary from her first delivery before Claxton bowled her with the next.
Zimbabwe finished on 142 for six despite Taylor conceding only eight runs from her four overs. The veteran off spinner took two wickets and bowled a maiden, while Claxton finished with two for 35.
Defending 143 required Zimbabwe to make early inroads and Mutasa delivered one in her first spell, bowling Realeanna Grimmond for 17 at 19 for one after 2.4 overs.
Claxton and Taylor then changed the direction of the chase with a 71 run partnership.
Zimbabwe managed to keep Claxton relatively quiet as she took 37 balls over her 38, and Biza eventually bowled her with the final delivery of the 12th over.
At 90 for two, West Indies still required 53 from eight overs.
That was Zimbabwe’s opportunity to squeeze the chase. Taylor did not allow it.
She attacked the bowling immediately after Claxton’s departure and finished unbeaten on 64 from only 39 balls, with 11 fours. Her innings meant West Indies needed just five more overs to score the remaining 53 runs.
Jannillea Glasgow contributed an unbeaten 15 from 15 balls as the visitors reached 143 for two in 17 overs.
Mutasa finished with one for 19 from three overs to complete an effective all round outing after her unbeaten 24, while Biza returned one for 28 from four overs to go with her 21 at the top of the order.
Zimbabwe will rue the final five overs of the chase, when Taylor turned a manageable equation of 53 from 48 balls into a comfortable West Indies victory.
But there was substance in their batting effort.
Ndhlovu occupied the crease for 86 minutes and provided the attacking edge, while Zimbabwe recovered from 90 for four to add 52 from the final 32 balls. Mutasa and Biza then carried their contributions into the second innings by taking the only two West Indies wickets.
