Zimbabwe make history with first ICC Women’s Championship win

Zimbabwe Women made history at Harare Sports Club on Sunday, defeating West Indies Women by four wickets to claim their first ICC Women’s Championship victory and set up a series decider.

Nyasha Gwanzura led an inspired bowling display with a career-best four for 33 as the visitors were dismissed for 139 in 39.3 overs.

Zimbabwe reached 140 for six with 55 balls to spare, bouncing back from Thursday’s 99-run defeat to level the three-match One-Day International series at one apiece.

West Indies won the toss and chose to bat but lost Realeanna Grimmond for four in the second over, caught behind by Modester Mupachikwa off Michelle Mavunga with only nine runs on the board.

Captain Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor added 47 for the second wicket, taking the visitors to 56 for one in the 12th over.

Then Zimbabwe tore through the middle order.

Gwanzura had Matthews caught behind for 26 before Francisca Chipare struck twice in three deliveries.

Shemaine Campbelle was caught by Gwanzura for three, while Chinelle Henry fell for a duck to a catch by substitute fielder Christina Mutasa.

Suddenly, West Indies were 63 for four.

Gwanzura pressed home the advantage.

Jannillea Glasgow was caught by Beloved Biza for one, Zaida James edged behind for three and Aaliyah Alleyne was trapped lbw for four.

From 56 for one, the visitors had crumbled to 88 for seven in the 24th over.

Taylor held firm amid the collapse, but her resistance ended on 47 when Mavunga found the edge and Mupachikwa took her fourth catch.

Mavunga then had Afy Fletcher caught behind for 15, leaving West Indies 113 for nine.

Ashmini Munisar, who finished unbeaten on 20, and Karishma Ramharack added 26 for the last wicket before Olinder Chare bowled Ramharack for five in the 40th over.

Mavunga returned three for 36 and Chipare took two for 16, while Mupachikwa completed five catches behind the stumps.

Mupachikwa then helped lay the foundation for the chase.

She and Kelis Ndhlovu absorbed the early pressure in a measured opening stand of 67, with Mupachikwa striking seven boundaries on her way to 38.

West Indies hit back sharply.

Alleyne trapped Mupachikwa lbw at the end of the 17th over, Munisar dismissed Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano for a duck and Alleyne removed Ndhlovu for 30.

Zimbabwe had slipped from 67 without loss to 70 for three.

Biza and captain Josephine Nkomo steadied the chase with a 30-run partnership before Fletcher bowled Biza for 14.

Fletcher then trapped Chiedza Dhururu lbw for two, leaving Zimbabwe 105 for five and still needing 35.

Nkomo and Gwanzura refused to let the opportunity slip.

They added 28 to bring Zimbabwe within seven runs of victory, though Nkomo’s dismissal for 30 in the 40th over gave West Indies one final opening.

Gwanzura then struck Fletcher for four in the next over and took a single before Mavunga scored the two runs that sealed the historic win.

Gwanzura finished unbeaten on 18, completing a match she had shaped with the ball.

It was only Zimbabwe Women’s second ODI victory over a Full Member side.

They return to Harare Sports Club on Wednesday with a chance to win the series.

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