West Indies 271 for 5 (Matthews 118, Campbelle 96, Sibanda 2-42) beat Zimbabwe 180 (Nkomo 74*, Munisar 2-32, Glasgow 2-37, Alleyne 2-39) by 91 runs
Hayley Matthews scored her second century in three matches while Shemaine Campbelle missed what would’ve been her second ODI hundred by a whisker as West Indies took home the three-match series against Zimbabwe 2-1. West Indies posted 271 for 5 after being asked to bat, before bowling out the hosts for 180.
West Indies began cautiously in the series decider but Matthews scored 34 of the 38 they made in the first ten overs. Her opening partner Realeanna Grimmond’s struggles soon came to an end when left-arm seamer Nomvelo Sibanda bowled her for 3 off 27 balls. That was the only bit of cheer for Zimbabwe before Matthews and Campbelle added 160 for the second wicket off 168 balls.
Matthews scored at a brisk rate right from the start. She got to fifty off 55 balls before galloping to a century off just 98 deliveries. That allowed Campbelle to pace her innings. Matthews, who had missed out on a double century in the first ODI, miscued Sibanda to fall for 118 off 113 balls in the 39th over.
Campbelle, meanwhile, patiently got to 50 in 70 balls, but quickened up to score her next 46 runs in 49 deliveries before her dismissal. She looked to whip legspinner Beloved Biza through midwicket, but Kelis Ndhlovu took a diving catch to dismiss her. Jannillea Glasgow and Jahzara Claxton found some boundaries towards the end to propel West Indies to a big total.
In response, Zimbabwe were never in the chase. They lost their openers in the first 14 balls, with Modester Mupachikwa falling to an athletic effort from Grimmond at deep midwicket. She ran in diagonally from the rope and then dived to pouch an aerial flick, much to left-arm spinner Zaida James’ surprise. Only captain Josephine Nkomo offered some resistance for Zimbabwe. She scored her sixth ODI fifty, and finished 74 not out – that was just two shy of her highest ODI score – as she ran out of partners.
But what would leave West Indies a little concerned despite the comfortable 91-run win is Campbelle’s fitness. In the eighth over of the chase, she held her chest and went down, and had to be stretchered out. With Matthews missing the T20I leg of the tour for personal reasons, Campbelle would have been a candidate to lead West Indies in the three-match series.
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