Zimbabwe vs West Indies Women 1st ODI Preview & Tips - Windies backed for ODI victory over Zimbabwe

West Indies Women hammered Ireland by 64 runs in their last ODI as they surged to a 3-0 series win over their opponents. 

Since then, they have lost to the UAE (by 45 runs), New Zealand three times (by 180 runs, eight wickets and 200 runs) and Pakistan three times (by 168 runs, 206 runs and nine wickets). While losing to stronger opponents is not embarrassing, the size of their defeats is a big worry as Zimbabwe look to be stuttering on the field.

While their clash with the West Indies will give Zimbabwe home advantage against a fresh opponent they have never played against, they take on the side ranked seventh in the world right now. While there will be chances across the series to showcase their ability with bat and ball, I do not back them to start with victory. 

To have easily beaten a side that are not far behind the Windies in the rankings should be celebrated, but they cannot get ahead of themselves. Wins by nine wickets, six wickets and 64 runs across their three-game series does not completely paper over the cracks of defeats to the likes of South Africa, Sri Lanka and Australia. While each are superior sides, their inability to seriously challenge is something the Windies will want to remedy. 

Against Zimbabwe, the Windies will fancy their chances of surging to a 3-0 win and making it six successive ODI triumphs. While playing the conditions well in the opener when touring a nation is rarely easy, the Windies are my pick to move into a 1-0 series lead.