Claxton stars for WI Women in T20I opener

HARARE, Zimbabwe (CMC):

Jahzara Claxton’s impressive all-round performance guided West Indies Women to a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Zimbabwe Women in the opening T20 International in Harare yesterday.

Claxton claimed two wickets with a disciplined spell of pace bowling as Zimbabwe were restricted to 97 for nine from their 20 overs after being sent in at Takashinga Sports Club.

The 20-year-old then returned to score an unbeaten 31 as the visitors raced to 98 for two, sealing victory with 43 balls to spare.

Playing without inspirational captain Hayley Matthews, West Indies Women barely missed a beat as their bowlers put the home side under pressure from the outset.

With just 13 runs on the board, opener Sharne Mayers was dismissed for a duck by stand-in captain Chinelle Henry with the final ball of the third over.

Off-spinner Karishma Ramharack then trapped Kelis Ndhlovu lbw for 11 and removed Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano for four soon after to leave Zimbabwe struggling at 37 for three in the 10th over.

Afy Fletcher ended opener Modester Mupachikwa’s painstaking innings of 20 from 33 balls by rattling her stumps before Claxton accounted for captain Josephine Nkomo for eight, leaving the hosts on 65 for five.

Beloved Biza, who made 21 from 24 balls, and Nyasha Gwanzura, who scored 10, helped carry Zimbabwe close to the 100-run mark, but the innings ultimately fell short.

Ramharack was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-17, while Claxton (2-16) and Fletcher (2-18) provided valuable support.

West Indies Women then wasted little time in pursuing their target, with Eboni Brathwaite and Claxton putting on 38 runs inside four overs.

Leg-spinner Olinder Chare made the breakthrough for Zimbabwe when she bowled Brathwaite for a brisk 23 from 14 balls.

However, Claxton and Realeanna Grimmond effectively settled the contest with a 59-run second-wicket partnership.

The pair looked set to guide their side home until Grimmond handed Biza a return catch with the scores level, departing for 34 from 25 deliveries.

Stafanie Taylor then completed the victory by taking a single from the next ball.

Player of the Match Claxton faced 37 deliveries and struck four fours in her unbeaten innings.