Mumbai, Feb 23 (NationPress) In a dazzling display of power-hitting, Shimron Hetmyer smashed an impressive 85 runs off just 34 balls, including seven sixes and as many fours, leading the West Indies to a commanding 107-run victory over the overwhelmed Zimbabwe team in a Group 1 match during the Super 8s of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 in Mumbai on Monday.

Hetmyer ignited a fireworks display at the Wankhede Stadium, propelling the West Indies to a staggering total of 254/6 in 20 overs, marking it as the highest team score of the T20 World Cup 2026 and the second-highest in T20 World Cup history. Their victory margin of 107 runs also stands as the largest in this tournament.

The West Indies' innings revolved around Hetmyer's phenomenal performance, although Rovman Powell contributed significantly with a quick-fire 59 runs off 35 balls, forming a solid third-wicket partnership of 122 runs. Hetmyer, who has recently transitioned from the middle-order to the No.2 position, truly stole the show.

For Zimbabwe, the target proved insurmountable as they fell to 20/3 within the first three overs. Captain Sikander Raza, who briefly left the field for medical assessment after being struck by a shot from Powell, managed to score 27 runs off 20 balls, while Dion Myer added 28 runs off 15 balls (3 fours, 2 sixes).

In the death overs, Brad Evans showcased his hitting prowess with a quickfire 43 runs off 21 balls, which included two fours and five sixes, but Zimbabwe ultimately crumbled, getting bowled out for 147 in just 17.4 overs. The scoreboard pressure was too much for the side that had previously stunned teams like Australia and Sri Lanka in the league phase.

Gudakesh Motie was the star with the ball, achieving remarkable figures of 4-28, while Akeal Hosein played a pivotal role with his 3-28, and Matthew Forde contributed 2-27 to ensure a comprehensive victory.

This emphatic win improved the West Indies' Net Run Rate (NRR) to over 5, complicating India's journey to the semi-finals.

Hetmyer's explosive performance significantly lifted the West Indies' NRR ahead of crucial matches against South Africa and India. His record-breaking innings of 34-ball 85 included the fastest fifty by a West Indies batter in T20 WC history and matched the record for the most sixes by a player in the tournament (17). This inning also propelled the Windies to the second-highest team total (254/6) in T20 World Cup history and established the largest third-wicket partnership for West Indies.

Opting to bat first, Hetmyer reached the milestone of the fastest fifty for a West Indian in T20 World Cup in just 19 balls, achieving the feat with four boundaries and five sixes, surpassing his previous record.

Previously, he had scored a half-century in 22 balls against Scotland in the tournament's opening match, beating Chris Gayle's record of 23 balls for the fastest fifty set in 2009.

Powell, while slightly slower, made his fifty in 29 balls as they forged a formidable 122-run partnership, sealing the highest total recorded at the Wankhede Stadium in this T20 World Cup.

Hetmyer entered the crease following the dismissal of Brandon King and quickly formed a 37-run partnership with captain Shai Hope (14) before Hope was dismissed spectacularly by Brian Bennett.

After starting cautiously, Hetmyer soon capitalized on two missed chances and unleashed a series of breathtaking shots, leaving the Zimbabwean bowlers stunned.

He began with a boundary off Richard Ngarava and another off Blessings Muzarabani. After getting a lifeline, he launched a barrage against Ngarava and followed it up with consecutive sixes off Graeme Cremer.

In just the eighth over, Hetmyer struck three sixes off Raza, racing to his half-century in a mere 19 balls.

Even after reaching his fifty, Hetmyer continued to dominate, hitting a massive 108-meter six off Raza and subsequently a four. He scored 33 runs off Raza in just nine balls before being dropped once more.

Powell joined in with some explosive hits of his own, reaching his fifty in 29 balls as they brought up their century partnership in just 45 balls. Just as it seemed Hetmyer might secure a century, he was dismissed for 85 runs, having struck seven fours and seven sixes. Powell fell soon after for 59 runs (4 fours, 4 sixes).

With both Hetmyer and Powell scoring freely, the West Indies amassed 139/2 during the middle overs, the second-highest total for this stage of a match, trailing only Sri Lanka's 141/3 against Kenya in 2007.

Sherfane Rutherford (31 not out off 13 balls) and Jason Holder (13 off 4 balls) contributed to the final total with some explosive hitting, leaving Zimbabwe with a daunting target.

Brief scores:

West Indies 254/6 in 20 overs (Shimron Hetmyer 85, Rovman Powell 59, Sherfane Rutherford 31 not out; Blessing Muzarabani 2-42, Richard Ngarava 2-47) defeated Zimbabwe 147 all out in 17.4 overs (Brad Evans 43 not out; Gudakesh Motie 4-28, Akeal Hosein 3-28) by 107 runs.