Mumbai, February 23 Shimron Hetmyer was in incredible form, scoring 85 off 34 balls before Rovman Powell's 59 helped West Indies reach a massive 254/6, the second-highest total in T20 World Cup history, in their Super Eights match against Zimbabwe here on Monday.
With a couple of lucky breaks, Hetmyer, West Indies' number 3, scored a second fifty of the tournament by hitting seven sixes and as many fours, while also setting a new record for the fastest half-century, achieving it off just 19 balls, bettering his previous record (set off 22 balls) in the tournament.
In total, West Indies hit 19 sixes, taking advantage of the flat pitch, and came close to Sri Lanka's highest-ever tournament total of 260/6 against Ireland in the inaugural edition in 2007.
Like many of his teammates, Zimbabwe's Tashinga Musekiwa was playing his first ever game at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, but the 26-year-old would remember the game differently: for dropping Hetmyer twice, on balls 9 and 70.
Brandon King (9), after hitting a six off Richard Ngarava (2/47), hit straight to Musekiwa at deep backward square in the third over.
However, in the fourth over, Musekiwa failed to control the ball, which popped out of his hands at deep backward square, giving Hetmyer a lifeline off Blessing Muzarabani (2/42), and that's when the momentum shifted.
Hetmyer had begun with a flick over midwicket for a four off the first ball and looked in good rhythm until he pulled one straight to deep backward square, where Musekiwa had failed to hold on.
Hetmyer, who had reached the non-striker's end by then, seemed frustrated as he made gestures with his hands.
Ngarava was then hit for two consecutive fours, and Graeme Cremer was hammered for two towering sixes in the seventh over, as Hetmyer set the stage for a big score.
Batting without any restrictions, Hetmyer unleashed a flurry of sixes against the Zimbabweans, who appeared clueless.
Skipper Sikandar Raza, who later took a direct hit from Powell, tried to regain control, but Hetmyer swatted him thrice on the on-side for sixes, scoring 20 runs in the eighth over.
West Indies plundered as many as 124 runs between overs 2 and 12, with Hetmyer getting strong support from Powell. The two West Indies batters put on 122 off 52 balls for the third wicket.
Even as Hetmyer was dominating the Zimbabwe bowlers, Powell did not appear to be playing a supporting role. It was clear that the West Indies batters were running well between the wickets, but Powell also rarely missed an opportunity to score big when the chance arose.
His 59 off 35 balls included four hits to the fence and as many over it.
Towards the end, Sherfane Rutherford (31 not out), Romario Shepherd (21) and Jason Holder (13) helped West Indies cross the 250-mark.
