Gwanzura leads Zimbabwe Women to historic win

HARARE, Zimbabwe:

Nyasha Gwanzura’s all-around brilliance in the second one-day international (ODI) carried Zimbabwe Women to a historic, series-levelling four-wicket victory over West Indies Women on Sunday.

The offspinner produced her best-ever ODI bowling performance, capturing 4-33 in 10 overs to help bowl out the visitors for a paltry 139 in 39.3 overs after they elected to bat first at Harare Sports Club.

Gwanzura then returned with the bat to help bail her side out of a tricky position of 105 for five, as the home side reached 140 for six with 55 balls remaining to register their first-ever win over their opponents in an ODI.

The result left the three-match series tied at 1-1, with the decider scheduled for Wednesday.

West Indies lost the early wicket of Realeanna Grimmond for four with just nine runs on the board, but through the efforts of captain Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor, recovered to 56 for one in the 12th over.

But once Gwanzura struck a crucial blow by having Matthews caught behind by wicketkeeper Modester Mupachikwa for 26, the Windies’ innings crumbled.

Francisca Chipare accounted for the wicket of Shemaine Campbelle for three, and two balls later she had Chinelle Henry caught for a duck to leave the score 63 for four after 15 overs.

Gwanzura put Zimbabwe further in control by dismissing Jannillea Glasgow for one, Zaida James for three and Aaliyah Alleyne for four, to reduce the Windies to 88 for seven in the 24th over.

West Indies Women got up to their eventual total courtesy of Taylor’s fighting 47 off 68 balls, Ashmini Munisar’s patient, unbeaten 20 off 45 balls, while Afy Fletcher, playing in her 100th ODI, scored a run-a-ball 15.

Mavunga took 3-36, while Chipare claimed 2-16.

Solid start

Zimbabwe were given a solid start by openers Mupachikwa and Kelis Ndhlovu, with the two putting on 67 runs for the first wicket.

Alleyne got the much-needed breakthrough when she trapped the former lbw for 38, and one run later, Munisar dismissed Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, also by the lbw route for a duck.

West Indies Women would have had hopes of a possible victory when Alleyne had Ndhlovu caught for 30 to make the score 70 for three.

However, captain Josephine Nkomo shared an invaluable 30-run partnership with Beloved Biza for the fourth wicket to carry Zimbabwe to the 100-mark.

Gwanzura, with an unbeaten 18 off 37 balls, put her side on course to victory during a 28-run stand with her captain that all but sealed the result.