Mumbai, Feb 23 (UNI) Shimron Hetmyer produced a blazing masterclass under lights to propel West Indies to a commanding 107-run victory over Zimbabwe in the 44th Match of Super 8 Group 1 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.
Put in to bat after Zimbabwe opted to field, West Indies piled up a tournament-defining 254 for 6 in 20 overs, riding on Hetmyer’s sensational 85 off just 34 balls. The left-hander smashed seven fours and seven sixes at a strike rate of 250, bringing up the fastest fifty for West Indies in T20 World Cup history and completely dismantling the Zimbabwe attack.
West Indies lost Brandon King early for 9, caught at deep backward square leg off Richard Ngarava, and skipper Shai Hope followed for 14 after a fine diving catch by Brian Bennett off Brad Evans. At 54 for 2, Zimbabwe sensed an opening, but Hetmyer had other ideas.
He survived two dropped catches by Tashinga Musekiwa — once in the third over and again in the 11th — and made Zimbabwe pay heavily. Hetmyer launched Sikandar Raza for three successive sixes, hammered Graeme Cremer into the top tier, and pierced the gaps with audacious strokeplay square of the wicket.
Rovman Powell provided ideal support, scoring 59 off 35 balls with four boundaries and four sixes. The pair stitched together a decisive 122-run stand that shifted the game irreversibly. Powell reached his fifty with a single off Cremer before falling to Blessing Muzarabani at deep backward square leg.
The final overs turned into a spectacle of raw power. Romario Shepherd smashed three sixes in his 21 off 10 balls before being caught by Ryan Burl at long-off. Jason Holder then struck successive sixes off Muzarabani — one straight down the ground and another over deep midwicket — in a four-ball 13 before holing out.
Sherfane Rutherford capped the innings with an unbeaten 31 off 13 deliveries, slicing a boundary over backward point and finishing strongly as West Indies plundered 18 runs from the final over to cross the 250-mark.
For Zimbabwe, Ngarava (2/47) and Muzarabani (2/42) picked up two wickets apiece but struggled to contain the flow of runs, while Cremer and Evans claimed one each.
Chasing a daunting 255, Zimbabwe began briskly as Tadiwanashe Marumani swept Akeal Hosein for six and four in the opening over. However, Matthew Forde struck in his first over, removing Marumani for 14, and Hosein bowled Brian Bennett with a sharp turning delivery to reduce Zimbabwe to 20 for 2.
Ryan Burl soon perished attempting a slog, handing Hetmyer his second catch, and the pressure mounted. Dion Myers counter-attacked with a rapid 28 off 15 balls, including a 90-metre six off Forde, but Gudakesh Motie changed the course of the chase immediately after the powerplay.
Motie bowled Myers with his first ball and then dismantled the middle order. He clean-bowled skipper Sikandar Raza for 27 with a delivery that gripped and turned sharply, removed Tashinga Musekiwa for a golden duck on the very next ball, and later had Tony Munyonga caught at deep midwicket to complete a superb four-wicket haul of 4 for 28.
Jason Holder chipped in with a simple caught-and-bowled dismissal of Graeme Cremer, while Hosein accounted for Blessing Muzarabani, leaving Zimbabwe tottering at nine down.
Brad Evans mounted a late assault, striking five sixes and two fours in a spirited 43 off 21 balls. He cleared Holder for consecutive maximums, scooped Shamar Joseph over fine leg, and continued to attack in a bid to reduce the margin of defeat.
The resistance ended in the 18th over when Forde delivered a slower ball that Evans top-edged to short third man, where Hosein completed a straightforward catch. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 147 in 17.4 overs.
Motie (4/28), Hosein (3/28), and Forde (2/27) shared the spoils as West Indies sealed a comprehensive victory, boosting their net run rate significantly in the Super 8 stage.
With this emphatic win, West Indies strengthened their semifinal prospects, while Zimbabwe now face a steep challenge to stay alive in the tournament.
