KEY POINTS
- West Indies posted a colossal 254, the highest score of the tournament, before bowling Zimbabwe out for just 147.
- Shimron Hetmyer announced his return in style with a breathtaking 85 off 34 balls, featuring seven sixes.
- Gudakesh Motie led the demolition with career-best figures of 4 for 28, triggering Zimbabwean collapse.
- The 107-run win is the second-largest in T20 World Cup history nearing West Indies to the semi-finals.
MUMBAI: West Indies delivered a statement performance at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday, obliterating Zimbabwe by 107 runs in super eight stage encounter of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The Caribbean side posted a colossal 254, the highest total of the tournament, before their spinners ran through the Zimbabwean line-up to bundle them out for just 147.
The victory margin of 107 runs is the second-largest in T20 World Cup history, underscoring the gulf in class between the two sides on a night when the West Indian batting lineup fired in spectacular fashion.
Hetmyer announces return to form in style
Recalled to the side after missing the previous match, Shimron Hetmyer produced a career-defining innings that will long live in Wankhede folklore.
The left-hander walked in with the score on 54 after the early departure of captain Shai Hope, and what followed was pure mayhem.
Hetmyer raced to his fifty off just 21 balls and continued his assault, finishing with 85 from a mere 34 deliveries.
His knock contained seven towering sixes and seven fours, with the longest clearing the ropes by a considerable distance into the second tier of the stand at deep midwicket.
The 29-year-old found able support from captain Rovman Powell, who played the perfect supporting role in a 122-run third-wicket partnership that took just 52 balls.
Powell’s 59 from 35 deliveries was typically muscular, but it was Hetmyer who commanded the spotlight, dismantling Zimbabwe’s much-vaunted spin attack with contemptuous ease.
Powell, Shepherd, and Holder provide fireworks
Having laid the platform, West Indies’ finishers ensured there would be no let-up in the final overs.
Sherfane Rutherford remained unbeaten on a blistering 31 from 13 balls, while Romario Shepherd clubbed 21 from 10.
Jason Holder then provided the late entertainment, smashing 13 from just four deliveries, including two sixes, before falling to Blessing Muzarabani.
The West Indies total of 254 for 6 surpassed their own tournament record set earlier in the group stages and left Zimbabwe with a mountain so steep it required climbing equipment.
Richard Ngarava and Muzarabani were the pick of the Zimbabwean bowlers, each claiming two wickets, but both went for more than 10 runs per over.
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The spin duo of Graeme Cremer and Sikandar Raza conceded 90 runs between them from their seven overs, with Raza’s three-over spell costing 52.
Motie leads Zimbabwe’s spectacular collapse
If the West Indian batting was devastating, their bowling was clinical. Zimbabwe’s chase lasted less than 18 overs as they capitulated under the weight of the required run rate and some exceptional left-arm spin.
Gudakesh Motie was the chief destroyer, claiming career-best figures of 4 for 28 from his four overs.
The Guyanese left-armer ripped through the middle order, removing Dion Myers (28), Raza (27), Tony Munyonga (14), and Tashinga Musekiwa for a golden duck in a mesmerising spell.
Akeal Hosein provided superb support from the other end, finishing with 3 for 28, including the crucial wicket of Brian Bennett early in the innings.
Zimbabwe found themselves reeling at 20 for 3 inside three overs, and despite a brief resistance from Myers and Raza, the contest was effectively over as a meaningful chase.
Evans’ late fireworks provide only consolation
The only resistance of note came from Brad Evans, who walked in with his team in tatters at 103 for 9.
The all-rounder launched a remarkable counter-attack, smashing 43 from just 21 deliveries with five sixes and two fours.
His partnership of 44 with Richard Ngarava for the last wicket was the highest of the Zimbabwean innings and provided some late entertainment for the crowd.
Evans was eventually caught in the deep off Matthew Forde, who finished with 2 for 27, ending Zimbabwe’s innings at 147 in the 18th over.
