Mumbai, February 23 – Shimron Hetmyer delivered a stunning batting performance, smashing sixes and scoring 85 runs in 34 balls, along with a century partnership with Rovman Powell (59), as the West Indies posted a massive 254/6 against a significantly weaker Zimbabwe in the Group 1 match of the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Monday.
This is the highest team score in the 2026 T20 World Cup, and the second-highest score in the history of the tournament.
After being asked to bat first, Hetmyer achieved the fastest fifty by a West Indies batsman in the T20 World Cup, reaching the milestone in just 19 balls, with four boundaries and five sixes. This surpassed his own previous record.
Hetmyer had previously scored a half-century in 22 balls against Scotland in the opening match of the World Cup at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, breaking Chris Gayle's previous record of 50 runs in 23 balls in 2009.
Powell and Hetmyer combined well, sharing a 122-run partnership for the third wicket, which was crucial in helping the West Indies reach their highest total at the Wankhede Stadium in this T20 World Cup.
Hetmyer came to bat after Brandon King was dismissed by Richard Ngarava in the third over, leaving the West Indies at 17/1. Hetmyer then partnered with captain Shai Hope (14), who was caught by Brian Bennett off Brad Evans.
Hetmyer, who used a variety of shots including the cut, pull, and loft, started aggressively, hitting a four off Richard Ngarava in the third over and another off Blessings Muzarabani in the next over. He also benefited from a dropped catch by Tashinga Musekiwa.
Hetmyer then continued his aggressive hitting, hitting back-to-back boundaries off Ngarava in the fifth over and consecutive sixes off Graeme Cremer in the seventh over. The first six was a swipe across the line that landed in the deep mid-wicket area, and the second was over the cow corner.
In the eighth over, he smashed Zimbabwe captain Sikander Raza for three sixes in four deliveries, helping the West Indies reach 92/2 in just eight overs, and Hetmyer completed his half-century in 19 balls.
Hetmyer continued his impressive form, hitting a massive six – 108 meters – off Raza in the 10th over, followed by a four off the next ball. He then scored 33 runs off Raza in nine balls. He was also dropped by Musekiwa.
Powell then joined the attack, hitting four fours and three sixes, reaching his half-century in 29 balls. Their partnership reached 100 off 45 balls. However, Hetmyer was then out, mistiming a shot off Cremer and being caught by Bennett for 85 off 34 balls, with seven fours and six sixes. Powell was also soon dismissed, caught by Musekiwa off Muzarabani for 59 off 35 balls (4x4, 4x6).
With Hetmyer and Powell performing exceptionally well, the West Indies scored 139/2 in the middle overs, which is the second-highest score in this stage of the match, behind the 141/3 scored by Sri Lanka against Kenya in 2007.
To make matters worse for Zimbabwe, captain Raza had to retire due to an injury after being hit by a full toss from Powell.
Sherfane Rutherford (31 not out off 13 balls) and Jason Holder (13 in four balls) then completed the job, hitting sixes off successive balls in the final over, helping the West Indies reach their massive total. This left Zimbabwe with a difficult task in their second innings.
Final 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)
Zimbabwe: (To be followed)
