Shimron Hetmyer smashed 85 off just 34 balls as West Indies began the T20 World Cup Super 8 stage with a commanding 107-run win over Zimbabwe.
Hetmyer hit seven sixes and seven fours, blending power with precision at a strike rate of 250, helping West Indies post a huge 254-6. He was dropped twice by Tashinga Musekiwa—on nine and 70—before being caught at deep mid-wicket by Brian Bennett off Graeme Cremer.
Rovman Powell contributed a 35-ball 59 after a patient start, while Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, and Jason Holder provided crucial middle-order support.
West Indies’ total became the second-highest in T20 World Cup history, behind Sri Lanka’s 260-6 against Kenya in 2007. Zimbabwe’s bowlers struggled, with only Cremer maintaining an economy under 10.
Chasing 255, Zimbabwe were quickly in trouble. Akeal Hosein bowled Bennett for five, followed by Ryan Burl for a duck, leaving the Chevrons 20-3 in the third over. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie took 4-28, dismantling the middle order and dismissing Dion Myers for 28 with a brilliant delivery.
Brad Evans added some late resistance, hitting 43 off 21 balls, including five sixes, forming a World Cup record 10th-wicket stand of 44 with Richard Ngarava.
Despite earlier victories over Australia and Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe could not handle West Indies’ firepower. Hetmyer’s innings combined intelligent strike rotation, elegant drives, and raw power, reaching a half-century off just 19 balls—the fastest by a West Indian in World Cup history, beating his previous record of 22 balls against Scotland.
Hetmyer now leads the tournament with 17 sixes. “I’m trying to think less and let the bat do the talking,” he said after the game.
West Indies’ spinners, Motie and Hosein, claimed seven wickets between them, effectively ending Zimbabwe’s chase. With this dominant performance, West Indies continue to show they are strong contenders in the tournament, though questions remain if they might be peaking too early.
