MUMBAI, India – West Indies delivered a stunning display of power hitting and clinical bowling to thrash Zimbabwe by 107 runs in their T20 World Cup Super Eight opener on . The victory, secured at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, was built on a record-breaking total of 254 for 6, the second-highest team score in men’s T20 World Cup history.
Zimbabwe, after winning the toss and electing to bowl, found themselves on the receiving end of a brutal onslaught, eventually being bowled out for 147 in 17.4 overs. The loss marks their first in the tournament after a successful group stage campaign.
Hetmyer’s Explosive Innings
The foundation of West Indies’ imposing total was laid by Shimron Hetmyer, who smashed a scintillating 85 off just 34 balls. His innings, punctuated by seven sixes and seven fours, came at a blistering strike rate of 250. Hetmyer was dropped twice – on 9 and 70 – by Tashinga Musekiwa, errors that proved costly for Zimbabwe.
Hetmyer’s aggressive approach was particularly effective against spin, accumulating 56 runs off just 17 balls against Graeme Cremer and Sikandar Raza. His strike rate of 329.41 against spinners is the second-highest among batters to have scored 50 or more runs in men’s T20 Internationals where ball-by-ball data is available.
The left-handed batter reached his half-century in just 19 balls, surpassing his own previous record for the fastest fifty by a West Indies player at a men’s T20 World Cup. He had previously achieved a 22-ball fifty against Scotland earlier in the tournament.
Powell and Late Flourishes
While Hetmyer provided the initial spark, Rovman Powell continued the momentum, contributing a brisk 59 off 35 balls. Powell, initially cautious, accelerated his scoring rate, hitting three sixes, including a towering 106-metre maximum over extra-cover. His departure for 59, eventually caught by Musekiwa, didn’t stem the flow of runs.
Cameos from Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, and Jason Holder in the closing overs propelled West Indies past the 250-run mark. The team collectively hit 19 sixes, showcasing their power-hitting prowess reminiscent of their dominant performances in 2012 and 2016.
Zimbabwe’s Early Struggles and Collapse
Zimbabwe’s chase got off to a shaky start, losing three wickets within the first three overs. Akeal Hosein struck early, dismissing Brian Bennett with a well-crafted delivery. The introduction of Gudakesh Motie proved decisive, as he ripped through the Zimbabwe middle order, finishing with career-best T20 International figures of 4 for 28.
Motie’s dismissal of Sikandar Raza, who had briefly threatened with 27 off 20 balls, was a key moment. Raza was forced off the field for treatment after being hit by a powerful shot from Rovman Powell, further disrupting Zimbabwe’s innings.
Akeal Hosein’s dismissal of Bennett was also notable, described as a “beauty” of a delivery that drifted in and then turned away sharply.
Despite a late flourish from Craig Evans, who scored 43 off 21 balls, Zimbabwe’s resistance was ultimately futile. Matthew Forde completed the victory, dismissing Evans to seal a 107-run win – West Indies’ second-largest victory margin in terms of runs.
“The win means a lot actually, more so because of the fact I didn’t get that much in the last game,” said Hetmyer, reflecting on his match-winning performance. “So I’m just trying to make sure that I keep replicating and keep doing the same things that I’ve been doing for the past couple of months and so far it’s been working. In the past I’ve been doing a lot of overthinking when I walk out to bat, about what to do if I get out and stuff like that. So now I’m trying to think less and just let the bat do as much thinking and much talking for me as possible. Just reacting to whatever is in front of me.”
West Indies’ dominant performance sets a strong tone for their Super Eight campaign, while Zimbabwe will need to regroup quickly to recover from this heavy defeat.
