ZIMBABWE Women’s batting frailties returned to haunt them yesterday as another below-par total condemned the Lady Chevrons to an eight-wicket defeat against West Indies at Takashinga Cricket Club and surrendered the three-match T20I series with a game to spare.
After managing just 97 for nine in the opening match, Zimbabwe again struggled to generate enough runs, posting 106 for seven from their 20 overs before West Indies raced to 108 for two in only 9.1 overs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead.
The Lady Chevrons had threatened to produce a much stronger batting performance when openers Beloved Biza and Kelis Ndhlovu laid a useful foundation with a 46-run opening partnership.
But what promised to be the launch pad for a competitive total gradually unravelled as Zimbabwe failed to build on the start.
Ndhlovu made 25 from 28 balls before Afy Fletcher trapped her leg before wicket, while Biza top-scored with 35 from 35 deliveries.
Biza’s dismissal triggered a damaging passage for the hosts as West Indies youngster Jahzara Claxton removed her before trapping Christine Mutasa leg before wicket for a golden duck with the next delivery.
Zimbabwe suddenly found themselves under pressure at 78 for three.
Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano attempted to steady the innings with 25 from 28 balls, but the Zimbabwe struggled to find the boundaries and acceleration needed during the closing stages.
Nyasha Gwanzura made eight, Chiedza Dhururu three and captain Josephine Nkomo one, while Modester Mupachikwa finished unbeaten on seven.
Claxton returned figures of three for 14 as Zimbabwe closed on 106 for seven, leaving their bowlers with another difficult total to defend.
Zimbabwe Women had made four changes following defeat in the opening match, bringing in Mutasa, Dhururu, Loryn Phiri and Nomvelo Sibanda for Sharne Mayers, Michelle Mavunga, Francisca Chipare and Olinder Chare as coach Mark Coles searched for a response.
But the changes could not solve Zimbabwe’s biggest problem of the series so far, converting starts into substantial scores and putting enough runs on the board.
With only 107 required, West Indies attacked from the outset.
Kudzai Chigora briefly gave Zimbabwe hope when she bowled Claxton for four, but 17-year-old Eboni Brathwaite quickly extinguished any thoughts of a comeback with a brutal assault on the Lady Chevrons attack.
Brathwaite hammered 57 from just 23 balls, striking three fours and six sixes as West Indies seized complete control of the chase.
The teenager reached her half-century from only 20 deliveries, setting a West Indies Women’s T20I record for the fastest fifty.
Mutasa eventually ended the onslaught when Brathwaite was caught by Mugeri-Tiripano, but the damage had already been done.
Realeanna Grimmond struck an unbeaten 23 from 16 balls, while veteran Stafanie Taylor finished nine not out as West Indies completed victory with 65 balls remaining.
The defeat leaves Zimbabwe facing questions over their batting approach ahead of Wednesday’s third and final match.
While the opening pair demonstrated that runs can be scored against West Indies, Zimbabwe again lacked contributions through the middle and lower order and failed to capitalise on periods when they had established a platform.
The Lady Chevrons have now scored only 203 runs across their first 40 overs of the series, losing 16 wickets in the process.
Wednesday’s finale may no longer carry the possibility of a series victory, but it offers Zimbabwe an opportunity to address those shortcomings, deny West Indies a clean sweep and finish the home assignment on a positive note.
