In a spectacular display of power hitting, Shimron Hetmyer’s explosive 85 runs from just 34 deliveries propelled the West Indies to a commanding 107-run victory against Zimbabwe in the Super 8 stage of the Men’s T20 World Cup. The match, held at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, witnessed the Caribbean side post a mammoth 254-6 – the second-highest total in tournament history.
The left-handed batsman from Guyana demonstrated extraordinary batting prowess, striking seven sixes and seven fours while maintaining a staggering strike rate of 250. Hetmyer’s performance was particularly remarkable given he was dropped twice by Tashinga Musekiwa at critical moments in his innings. His 19-ball half-century set a new West Indian World Cup record, surpassing his own previous achievement.
Captain Rovman Powell provided substantial support with a well-crafted 59 from 35 balls, while middle-order contributions from Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, and Jason Holder accelerated the scoring in the final overs. Zimbabwe’s bowling attack endured a chastening experience, with only Graeme Cremer managing an economy rate below 10.
Facing an unprecedented chase at the Wankhede Stadium, where no team had successfully pursued more than 230 in T20 history, Zimbabwe’s innings collapsed early. The spin duo of Gudakesh Motie (4-28) and Akeal Hosein (3-28) dismantled the batting lineup, reducing Zimbabwe to 20-3 within the first three overs.
Despite the comprehensive defeat, Brad Evans provided late resistance with an aggressive 43 from 21 balls, including five sixes, while establishing a record 10th-wicket partnership of 44 with Richard Ngarava. The victory reinforces West Indies’ status as serious contenders for the title, though questions emerge about whether they’re reaching peak form too early in the competition.