West Indies beat Zimbabwe by 107 runs (photos)
Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell spearheaded a formidable batting display, propelling West Indies to 254 for six – the second-highest total in T20 World Cup history.
KATHMANDU: West Indies delivered a commanding all-round performance to overwhelm Zimbabwe by 107 runs in their Super Eights opener of the T20 World Cup at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.
Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell spearheaded a formidable batting display, propelling West Indies to 254 for six – the second-highest total in T20 World Cup history. Sri Lanka holds the record with 260 against Ireland in the inaugural edition of the tournament.
Hetmyer struck 85 off just 34 deliveries, including a 19-ball half-century, surpassing his own record for the fastest T20 World Cup fifty by a West Indies player. Powell contributed a steady 59, recovering from a slow start with support from Hetmyer. The pair shared an 85-run partnership that steadied the innings after early setbacks.
Late-order contributions from Sherfane Rutherford, who blasted 31 from 13 balls, and Romario Shepherd’s 21 further inflated the total, leaving Zimbabwe struggling to contain the Caribbean side’s onslaught. The result serves as a stern warning for South Africa and India, West Indies’ next opponents in the Super Eights stage.
In reply, Zimbabwe’s chase quickly unravelled. Despite a strategy to play aggressive cricket, the Chevrons were ill-prepared for the daunting target. Three wickets fell in three overs, effectively sealing their fate. Captain Sikandar Raza managed only 27 runs, while Dion Myers added 28. Brad Evans fought valiantly with a 43-ball 21 but could not turn the tide, as four Zimbabwean players failed to score.
The visitors were eventually dismissed for 147, handing West Indies a comprehensive 107-run victory. The win also improved West Indies’ Net Run Rate, placing them ahead of South Africa in the points table.
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