Zimbabwe arrived in Mumbai with confidence, having remained unbeaten in their first four matches, including victories over Australia and Sri Lanka. They entered the Super Eight stage full of optimism and determination.
However, Monday evening at Wankhede Stadium proved to be a reality check. West Indies’ record-breaking batting performance led to a commanding 107-run victory, maintaining their undefeated streak in the tournament. With this result, the West Indies now sit atop the Super Eight standings, asserting their dominance in this edition of the T20 World Cup.
Hetmyer Ignites the Charge
After winning the toss, West Indies elected to bat first. Zimbabwe’s bowlers started well, restricting the West Indies to 55 for 2 in the powerplay, keeping the match seemingly balanced.
Then Shimron Hetmyer turned the game on its head. Having received two early reprieves, he capitalized on Zimbabwe’s errors, reaching his fifty in just 19 balls — the fastest by a West Indian in T20 World Cup history and tied for the fastest in this edition of the tournament. Hetmyer ended with a blistering 85 runs off 34 balls, including 7 fours and 7 sixes, thrilling the Mumbai crowd.
Also Read: Inside the ₹590 Crore IDFC First Bank Fraud That Shook Dalal Street
Rovman Powell complemented Hetmyer with aggression, scoring 59 runs off 35 balls, including a fifty in just 29 balls. Together, they formed the joint fastest 100-run partnership in this World Cup edition, helping West Indies surpass 150 runs in 13 overs.
The team eventually posted 254/6, the highest total in this World Cup and the second highest in T20 World Cup history, hitting 19 sixes in the process. Captain Shai Hope’s team has now won five matches from five, each victory more commanding than the last.
Zimbabwe Feels the Weight
Chasing 255 to win, Zimbabwe immediately fell under pressure. They lost 3 wickets for just 20 runs in the first three overs. Matthew Forde dismissed Tadiwanashe Marumani, while Akeal Hosein knocked over Brian Bennett on his very first delivery, putting Zimbabwe in a difficult position from the start.
Sikandar Raza (27) and Dion Myers (28) tried to steady the innings but were unable to convert starts into significant contributions. West Indies’ left-arm spinners — Gudakesh Motie (4/28) and Akeal Hosein (3/28) — applied relentless pressure.
Near the end, Brad Evans played a fiery knock of 43 runs off 21 balls, including five sixes, and his 44-run partnership with Richard Ngarava set a record for Zimbabwe’s highest 10th-wicket partnership in T20 World Cups. Despite this late effort, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 147, handing West Indies a comprehensive 107-run victory.
West Indies Send a Message
This performance underscores West Indies’ dominance on batting-friendly pitches and under tournament pressure. With five wins in five matches, they enter the latter stages of the Super Eight stage with confidence and momentum, while Zimbabwe’s dream run has been temporarily paused, leaving room for redemption in their remaining matches.
Also Read: Modi Eyes Israel Visit, Reaffirms Deep Strategic Bond with Netanyahu
