Captain, Hayley Matthews smashed the highest individual ODI score by a West Indian Woman of 182, as they opened their series against Zimbabwe with a 99-run win in Harare.

Her 182 came off 156 balls, which featured 26 fours and two sixes. The knock made Matthews the first woman, and 14th overall, to score two 150-plus ODI innings in a calendar year.  

Her innings powered West Indies to 299 for 6, after they opted to bat, before their bowlers restricted Zimbabwe to 200 in 43.3 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Matthews and Realeanna Grimmond provided West Indies with a strong start, putting on 128 for the opening wicket. 

Grimmond made a steady 53 off 70 balls, hitting seven fours and a six, before falling in the 24th over. Matthews continued to control the innings after the opening stand was broken. 

She brought up her hundred from 108 balls and accelerated through the latter stages, adding useful partnerships with Shemaine Campbelle, Chinelle Henry and Jannillea Glasgow. Matthews eventually fell in the 50th over for 182, having taken the visitors to the brink of 300. 

Zimbabwe’s chase never gathered enough momentum despite a composed 86 from Modester Mupachikwa at the top of the order. Having reached 100 for 2 in the 22nd over, the hosts lost their way despite Mupachikwa holding fort at one end. 

Mupachikwa, who struck seven fours and a six, was eventually bowled by Aaliyah Alleyne in the 44th over – the last Zimbabwe batter to be dismissed. Alleyne finished with 3 for 44, while Jannillea Glasgow, Ashmini Munisar and Afy Fletcher claimed two wickets each.