The West Indies crushed Zimbabwe by 107 runs in their ICC T20 World Cup Super Eight match in Mumbai on Monday, launching their campaign in emphatic fashion.
Powered by a sensational 85 off 34 balls from Shimron Hetmyer, the Windies amassed 254-6 — the second-highest total in the tournament’s history. Only Sri Lanka’s 260-6 against Kenya in 2007 stands above it.
Zimbabwe, who had stunned Australia and Sri Lanka to reach the Super Eights, faltered badly in pursuit of 255. Reduced to 20-3 inside three overs after Akeal Hosein struck twice with his left-arm spin, they never recovered. The innings folded for 147 in 17.4 overs, with Brad Evans providing late resistance through a spirited 43 off 21 balls, including five sixes.
Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie was the standout bowler with 4-28, extracting sharp turn, while Hosein finished with 3-28.
Earlier, Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza won the toss and chose to field at the Wankhede Stadium — a decision that quickly backfired.
Hetmyer, who came in at 17-1, was handed two reprieves by Tashinga Musekiwa, dropped on nine and again on 70. Zimbabwe paid dearly. The left-hander raced to a 19-ball half-century, equalling Aiden Markram for the fastest fifty of the tournament.
He shared a blistering 122-run stand in 52 balls with Rovman Powell, who struck 59 off 35 deliveries. By the time Hetmyer departed in the 15th over, the score had surged to 176.
Sherfane Rutherford added an unbeaten 31 from 13 balls as the Windies crossed both the 200 and 250 marks. Romario Shepherd smashed 21, while Jason Holder struck 13 from just three deliveries, with 38 runs plundered from the final two overs to seal a dominant total.
