(ESPN) Hayley Matthews’ scintillating 182 off 156 set up a commanding 99-run win for West Indies over Zimbabwe in the first women’s ODI in Harare. Matthews’ knock powered West Indies to 299 – their second-highest ODI total – and their bowlers bowled Zimbabwe out for 199 to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Matthews and her fellow opener Realeanna Grimmond laid down the platform for West Indies with a 128-run stand. The partnership was a steady one, with Matthews the brisker batter.
Grimmond hit seven fours and a six as she brought up her third ODI fifty in her ninth match. She was finally caught behind off Beloved Biza in the 24th over for 53 off 70.
From there, it was the Matthews show as she racked up 120 of the 171 runs that West Indies scored from there.
She brought up her century off 108 balls, and then got her next 50 runs off 32 balls. She only continued to up the ante, scoring her final 32 runs at a strike rate of 200 before being yorked by quick Tendai Makusha on the first ball of the final over.
Matthews’ 182 became the sixth-highest individual score in women’s ODIs, and the highest by a West Indian, going past Stafanie Taylor’s 171 against Sri Lanka in 2013.
Medium pacer Francisca Chipare finished with two wickets for Zimbabwe, while Biza and Makusha finished with one each as they managed to prevent West Indies from reaching what would have been just their second score of 300 or more.
Zimbabwe’s openers got off to a good start, with Sharne Mayers going 6, 4, 4 off Aaliyah Alleyne, albeit with a couple of thick outside edges. But she was caught at deep square leg trying to flick Jannillea Glasgow, giving West Indies their first breakthrough.
Mayers’ opening partner Modester Mupachikwa then fought a lone battle as Zimbabwe continued to lose wickets at the other end.
She found some support from No. 4 Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano for a 49-run stand, but Zimbabwe went on to lose their remaining eight wickets for 100 runs, with Mupachikwa the last batter to fall, bowled by Alleyne for 86 off 106.
Alleyne finished with three wickets, while Glasgow, Ashmini Munisar and Afy Fletcher all chipped in with two strikes apiece.
Discussion