T20 World Cup: West Indies hammer Zimbabwe, continue unbeaten run
What's the story
West Indies hammered Zimbabwe in their first Super 8 match of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. Being invited to bat, the Windies showed their firepower by smashing 254/6, the second-highest total in the tournament. Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell slammed blazing half-centuries. In a clinical defense, WI bowled Zimbabwe out for 147. Gudakesh Motie took four wickets.
Start
Hetmyer lifts WI after early blow
Electing to field, Zimbabwe kept WI quiet in the first two overs. While Brandon King (9) departed early, Hetmyer and Shai Hope added a rapid 37-run stand to steady the ship. Although Hope perished, the next few overs saw Hetmyer hammer the Zimbabwe spinners, including skipper Sikandar Raza. He raced to 50 off just 19 balls. And WI crossed 100 in the 10th over.
Dismissal
Hetmyer falls for 85
Rovman Powell, who was earlier struggling to time the ball, also joined Hetmyer in the six-hitting fest. Taking the Windies to 169/2 in just 14 overs, both Hetmyer and Powell looked set to further torment the bowlers. After hitting Graeme Cremer for another maximum, Hetmyer fell to him while slogging one. He smashed 85 off 34 balls (7 fours and 7 sixes).
Hitting prowess
Powell, Rutherford continue the hammering
Powell also continued his show, completing his half-century off 29 balls. In the 17th over, Blessing Muzarabani dismissed the Windies dasher for a 35-ball 59 (4 fours and 4 sixes). Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd came out all guns blazing, getting WI past 200 in the 17th over. The latter (21 of 10 balls) fell to Richard Ngarava in the 19th over.
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Rutherford, Holder ace finish
Rutherford and Jason Holder gave a masterclass in death-over hitting, collecting 18 runs off the final over. The former returned unbeaten on 31 off 13 balls (3 fours and 2 sixes).
Records
Second-highest total in T20 WCs
As mentioned, WI's 254/6 is now the second-highest total in T20 World Cup history. This was only the second 250-plus total in the tournament, behind Sri Lanka's 260/6 against Kenya in 2007. WI also posted the highest T20I total against Zimbabwe. They recorded 19 sixes, the joint-most in a T20 World Cup innings alongside the Netherlands' 19 against Ireland in 2014.
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Fastest T20 WC fifty for WI
According to Cricbuzz, Hetmyer's 19-ball fifty is now the fastest for the West Indies in T20 World Cup history. He held the previous record (off 22 balls against Scotland at Eden Gardens).
Milestone
1,500 T20I runs; career-best score
Earlier in the innings, Hetmyer raced to 1,500 runs in T20I cricket. He became the 11th WI batter to reach this special milestone. Hetmyer, who slammed his ninth T20I half-century, now has 1,564 runs from 70 innings at an average of 24.82. His tally includes a strike rate of 138.89. Hetmyer's 85 against Zimbabwe is now his highest score in T20Is.
Wickets
Zimbabwe lose three quick wickets
Although Tadiwanashe Marumani and Brian Bennett started positively for Zimbabwe, Matthew Forde cut short the former's stay. Hosein, who started the proceedings, dismissed Brian Bennett and Ryan Burl in the next over. This left Zimbabwe reeling at 20/3. Dion Myers and Sikandar Raza kept Zimbabwe afloat with a 32-run stand, but Gudakesh Motie handed them another blow, knocking over Myers.
Defeat
Zimbabwe lose by 107 runs
Zimbabwe, who stared at a defeat, were somehow in the hunt with a 42-run partnership between Tony Munyonga and Raza. However, Motie removed Raza and Tashinga Musekiwa on successive balls in the 11th over. Zimbabwe were eventually down to 103/9 before Brad Evans's 21-ball 43 extended their innings. Forde wrapped up Zimbabwe's innings (147) by getting rid of Evans in the 18th over.
Numbers
Motie's maiden T20I four-fer
Motie was the pick of WI's bowlers, taking 4/28 in four overs, including a maiden. The left-arm spinner impressed with his sharp turn. He recorded his maiden four-wicket haul in T20I cricket. He has raced to 49 wickets at an average of 25. Hosein, who recorded figures of 4-1-28-3, now has 92 T20I wickets at an average of 26.17.
Records
Other notable numbers from the match
As many as 31 sixes were scored, the most in a T20 World Cup match. The 2014 Netherlands-Ireland match recorded 30 sixes. According to Cricbuzz, West Indies have now won all five matches they played at Wankhede Stadium in T20 World Cups. West Indies won their fifth successive match, their longest winning streak in the tournament.
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WI continue unbeaten run
With a mammoth win, West Indies continue their unbeaten run in the ongoing T20 World Cup. The Windies will next face South Africa and India in the Super Eights. They top Group 1 with a Net Run Rate of +5.350.