Sports

West Indies Women Beat Zimbabwe Women by Eight Wickets in T20I Opening Match

By Devika Ragoonanan

Jahzara Claxton’s all‑round effort helped West Indies Women defeat Zimbabwe Women by eight wickets in the opening T20I at Takashinga Sports Club. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 97/9 in 20 overs, with Claxton taking two wickets and scoring an unbeaten 31 to guide the chase. West Indies Women reached 98/2 with 43 balls remaining. The West Indies team, missing captain Hayley Matthews, dominated early with a strong bowling display. Zimbabwe lost Sharne Mayers for a duck, followed by Kelis Ndhlovu for 11 and Chipo Mugeri‑Tiripano for four. At 37/3 in the 10th over, Afy Fletcher and Claxton took key wickets as Zimbabwe fell to 65/5. Biza’s 21 and Nyasha Gwanzura’s 10 helped Zimbabwe approach 100, but they finished short at 97/9. Karishma Ramharack led the West Indies attack with 3/17, while Claxton and Fletcher each took two wickets. In the chase, West Indies built a 38‑run opening partnership with Eboni Brathwaite and Claxton. Zimbabwe’s Olinder Chare dismissed Brathwaite for 23 off 14 balls. Claxton and Realeanna Grimmond added 59 runs, but Grimmond was out for 34 when the scores were level. Stafanie Taylor finished the innings with the winning single. Claxton was named Player‑of‑the‑Match, remaining unbeaten after scoring 37 runs with four fours.