Shai Hope’s team began their T20 World Cup Super Eights campaign with a resounding victory on Monday in Mumbai as the West Indies destroyed Zimbabwe by an overwhelming 107 runs.
Zimbabwe, who advanced to the Super Eights by shocking Australia and Sri Lanka, had a terrible start as they chased an incredible 255.
Akeal Hosein’s left-arm spin claimed two wickets in the third over, reducing them to 20/3, as they never came close. Brad Evans hit some powerful late punches before being last man out for 43 off 21 balls with five sixes, but they were all out for 147 in 17.4 overs.
Left-armer Gudakesh Motie was the best bowler in the West Indies, taking 4/28 while finding some quick turn on the pitch. Hosein took 3/28.
Earlier, the West Indies amassed 254/6, the second-highest total in the tournament’s history, thanks to a scorching 85 off 34 balls from Shimron Hetmyer.
After winning the toss and choosing to bowl, Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza watched as a vicious Hetmyer blasted his bowlers to pieces.
The only team to score more in a T20 World Cup match is Sri Lanka, who defeated Kenya in 2007 after scoring 260/6. The previous greatest total in this World Cup, 235/5 against Oman in Colombo, was easily surpassed by the West Indies.
The left-handed Hetmyer entered at 17/1 and was dropped on 9 by Tashinga Musekiwa at deep fine leg, giving Zimbabwe a lesson they would never forget.
Hetmyer seized the opportunity, soaring to his fifty off 19 balls with five massive sixes and four fours, reaching 1,500 T20 international runs in the process. He tied Aiden Markram of South Africa for the tournament’s fastest half-century, but he wasn’t done yet.
In 45 balls, Hetmyer and Rovman Powell, who entered at 54/2, completed a century stand. When the third wicket fell with 176 on the board in the fifteenth over, they had amassed 122 off 52 balls. After hitting 7 sixes and 7 fours, Hetmyer was held in the deep after being dropped for the second time on 70. Powell scored 4 fours and 4 sixes before being out for 59 off 35 balls.
Sherfane Rutherford’s 31 not out off 13 balls helped his team surpass 200. In the end, Jason Holder hit 13 off three and Romario Shepherd hit 21 off 10 balls.
