Mumbai, India – West Indies defeated Zimbabwe by 107 runs in their opening Super Eights match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on Monday, posting a formidable 254 for 6 at the Wankhede Stadium. The victory, fueled by explosive batting from Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell, marks a strong start to their campaign in the Super Eights stage.
After being asked to bat first, West Indies initially stumbled, losing Brandon King and Shai Hope early in the innings. However, the arrival of Hetmyer dramatically shifted the momentum. The left-handed batter unleashed a blistering attack, scoring 85 off just 34 balls, punctuated by seven fours and seven sixes. His aggressive strokeplay turned the Wankhede into a carnival atmosphere, according to reports.
Zimbabwe’s fielding contributed to their own downfall, with Tashinga Musekiwa dropping Hetmyer twice – once on nine and again on 70. These missed opportunities proved costly as Hetmyer capitalized on the reprieves, accelerating his scoring rate. Hetmyer’s 85 included the fastest half-century by a West Indian at a T20 World Cup, reaching the milestone in 19 balls.
Powell provided able support, contributing 59 off 35 balls, and forming a crucial 122-run partnership with Hetmyer. The duo’s aggressive batting completely disrupted Zimbabwe’s bowling plans. Late contributions from Sherfane Rutherford (31 off 13) and Romario Shepherd (21) further boosted the West Indies total.
West Indies’ final score of 254 for 6 is the second-highest total in T20 World Cup history, falling just short of Sri Lanka’s 260 for 6 against Ireland in 2007. The innings featured a total of 19 sixes, highlighting the team’s power-hitting prowess.
In response, Zimbabwe’s batting lineup struggled to cope with the pressure of the chase. They lost three wickets quickly, falling to 20 for 3 after three overs. Akeal Hosein claimed two wickets in a maiden over, putting Zimbabwe firmly on the back foot. The Zimbabwean innings ultimately faltered, being bowled out for 147.
Gudakesh Motie was the pick of the West Indies bowlers, claiming four wickets. The comprehensive victory places West Indies at the top of Group One in the Super Eights, ahead of South Africa on net run rate.
The West Indies will continue their Super Eights campaign with a match against South Africa on Wednesday, while Zimbabwe will seek to recover against the United States.
