The West Indies Women’s cricket team launched their tour of Zimbabwe in devastating fashion on Wednesday, securing a dominant 99-run victory over the host nation in the first of three One Day Internationals held at Harare Sports Club. Toss-winning captain Hayley Matthews elected to bat first, a decision that paid off beyond expectations as the visitors piled on one of the highest totals in their women’s ODI history.
Matthews, opening the batting for her side, produced an innings for the record books. The veteran all-rounder was finally dismissed with just five deliveries left in the 50-over allocation, having smashed an unbeaten 182 runs off only 156 deliveries. Her knock included 26 boundaries and two towering sixes, breaking Stafanie Taylor’s 10-year-old record of 171 against Sri Lanka for the highest individual score by a West Indies women’s batter in ODI cricket. The innings also ranks as the sixth-highest individual score in the history of women’s 50-over cricket worldwide.
Matthews shared a 128-run opening stand with young partner Realeanna Grimmond, who contributed a solid 53 runs – her third ODI half-century – featuring seven fours and one six. After the opening pair departed, however, the rest of the West Indies batting order struggled to build on their momentum. The next highest score came from Chinelle Henry, who managed 19 runs on her return to the national side following a spell on the sidelines with injury. West Indies closed their innings at 299 for six, the second-highest team total in the region’s women’s ODI history, falling just short of the 368 they scored against Sri Lanka back in 2013.
For Zimbabwe, seamer Francisca Chipare was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with figures of two wickets for 57 runs. Beloved Biza, Nyasha Gwanzura and Tendai Makusha each chipped in with one wicket apiece to keep the hosts in the hunt. Chasing a steep target of 300 runs for victory, Zimbabwe faced an uphill battle from the first over. Opener Modester Mupachikwa produced a valiant rearguard innings, anchoring the host’s total with an 86-run knock off 106 balls that included seven fours and one six. By the 22nd over, Zimbabwe looked well placed at 100 for two, but a disciplined collective bowling performance from West Indies triggered a dramatic collapse.
Even without Matthews in the bowling attack – she sat out bowling duties after suffering cramping – the West Indies bowlers shared wickets evenly to dismiss Zimbabwe for just 200 runs in the 44th over. Aaliyah Alleyne led the attack with three wickets for 34 runs, while Jannillea Glasgow, Ashmini Munisar and Afy Fletcher each claimed two wickets apiece. Glasgow and Munisar both finished with tidy figures of two wickets for 27 runs each.
The result marks West Indies’ fifth consecutive ODI victory, putting them 1-0 up in the three-match series, with the second ODI scheduled to take place this Sunday at the same Harare venue. Speaking to reporters after the match, an elated Matthews said she was thrilled with her personal milestone and the team’s strong start to the tour.
“It’s pretty nice to be able to spend some time and to get some runs and yeah a new PB for myself,” Matthews said. “I definitely set some high goals coming into this series so yeah just pretty happy I’ve been able to start well. As much as I can, I try to set an example out on the park with the bat and well not the ball today but just in general with performances. It was really good to see so many people in the wickets today, with everyone really playing a role and it shows that we certainly have a lot of options.”