Mumbai: West Indies produced one of the most explosive batting displays of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, hammering Zimbabwe by 107 runs in their Super Eight clash at the Wankhede Stadium.
Powered by blistering half-centuries from Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell, the Caribbean side piled up 254/6 — the highest total of this World Cup and the second-highest in tournament history. Zimbabwe, faced with a daunting chase, were bowled out for 147.
Zimbabwe made early inroads after opting to field, restricting West Indies to 55/2 in the PowerPlay. However, the momentum quickly shifted as Hetmyer launched a ferocious counterattack.
Hetmyer, reprieved twice during his innings, made Zimbabwe pay heavily. He reached his fifty in just 19 deliveries, registering the fastest half-century by a West Indies batter in T20 World Cup history and the joint-fastest of this edition. His stunning 85 off 34 balls, featuring seven fours and seven sixes, finally ended when Brian Bennett completed a catch near the boundary off Graeme Cremer.
At the other end, Powell built steadily before accelerating in trademark fashion. His 59 came off 29 balls and included a sequence of clean strikes that kept the pressure firmly on Zimbabwe. Together, Powell and Hetmyer stitched a rapid century partnership, one of the quickest seen in the tournament.
West Indies surged past 150 inside 13 overs and continued the assault even after both set batters departed. The innings featured a remarkable 19 sixes and 16 fours, marking the first 250-plus total of the competition.
Zimbabwe’s response faltered almost immediately under scoreboard pressure. They slumped to 20/3 within the opening three overs as Matthew Forde and Akeal Hosein triggered a top-order collapse. Hosein’s dismissal of Bennett was particularly significant, marking the opener’s first failure of the tournament.
Dion Myers (28) and Sikandar Raza (27) attempted to rebuild, but the required rate spiralled out of control. Brad Evans provided late entertainment with a fearless 43 off 21 balls, smashing five sixes, while his 44-run stand with Richard Ngarava set a new T20 World Cup record for the highest 10th-wicket partnership.
West Indies’ left-arm spinners proved decisive in sealing the contest. Gudakesh Motie starred with 4/28, while Hosein claimed 3/28, dismantling Zimbabwe’s middle and lower order.
With five wins in five matches, West Indies have firmly established themselves as one of the most dominant teams of the tournament, while Zimbabwe’s impressive run met a harsh reality against a batting masterclass.
