Eboni breaks record as Windies seal series against Zimbabwe

Eboni Brathwaite etched her name into the record books as she smashed the fastest fifty by a West Indian in women's T20I cricket to power her team to an eight-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in Harare. 

The victory gave West Indies an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series thanks largely to Eboni whose swashbuckling knock of 57 off 23 deliveries completely flattened Zimbabwe's hopes of defending a modest total of 106. 

Eboni bettered Deandra Dottin's effort against Australia in 2009 when she had reached the half-century mark in 22 deliveries. 

The 17-year-old was severe on the Zimbabwe bowlers from the word go, smashing six sixes and three boundaries in her innings as West Indies made easy work of the chase. Realeanna Grimmond applied the finishing touches with a 16-ball 23 as West Indies eased to the target with 65 balls to spare.

Zimbabwe who were put in to bat by West Indies got off to a solid start with Kellies Ndovlu and Beloved Biza sharing a 46-run stand for the opening wicket. 

Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano came in and further added to the opening stand with a 28-ball 25. However, a need to up the run-rate led to Zimbabwe losing their way around the 13th over mark. 

Mugeri-Tiripano was run out and West Indies led by Jahzara Claxton triggered a collapse. Zimbabwe went from being 78/1 in the 13th over to finishing with 106/7 in their 20 overs. 

The Zimbabwe bowlers had no answer to the Eboni's onslaught as they barely troubled the West Indies batting line-up who helped their team romp home to a series-clinching victory. 

The two teams meet again in the third and final T20I on Wednesday at Harare.