Shimron Hetmyer was searing. Rovman Powell was remorseless. And when the all-rounders muscled in, West Indies turned the Tremendous Eight Group 1 conflict right into a carnival of Caribbean carnage, clubbing Zimbabwe into submission on the Wankhede Stadium on a manic Monday evening.
Powered by a 122-run partnership off simply 52 balls between Hetmyer (85, 34b, 7×4, 7×6) and Powell (59, 35b, 4×4, 4×6), West Indies racked up a gargantuan 254 for six — the second-highest whole in Males’s T20 World Cup historical past. Zimbabwe, burdened by the asking fee and the event, wilted in reply and was bundled out for 147 in 17.4 overs. The 2-time champion received by 107 runs whilst Brad Evans waged a lone battle with a 21-ball 43.
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When Sikandar Raza opted to chase, he would have hoped the in-form Blessing Muzarabani and the returning Richard Ngarava would exploit the night sea breeze. And there was an early opening. Had Tashinga Musekiwa held on to an opportunity at deep square-leg within the fourth over off Muzarabani, Hetmyer’s night would have been minimize quick. and Zimbabwe could have put West Indies below strain.
As an alternative, the left-hander unleashed mayhem. Hetmyer remodeled the center overs right into a spotlight reel of leg-side brutality, his 108-metre six off Raza — which clattered into the North Stand’s prime tier railing — the standout strike of the evening. Powell, affected person for his first 20 deliveries, then joined the range-hitting revelry with ruthless precision.
West Indies plundered 19 sixes and 16 fours. Raza, who additionally copped a blow on his non-bowling palm, endured a torrid spell. Solely three overs — the primary two and the eleventh — handed and not using a boundary. If the primary 10 overs yielded 115 runs, the final 10 produced a whopping 139.
With scoreboard strain sky-high, Zimbabwe unravelled. Left-arm spin twins Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie methodically dismantled the chase, as determined strokes changed disciplined intent. For Zimbabwe, it was a harsh initiation into the Tremendous Eight, whereas for the West Indies, it was an announcement steeped in swagger.
The scores:
West Indies 254/6 in 20 overs (Shimron Hetmyer 85, Rovman Powell 59, Sherfane Rutherford 31 n.o., Richard Ngarava 2/47, Blessing Muzarabani 2/42) bt Zimbabwe 147 in 17.4 overs (Brad Evans 43, Akeal Hosein 3/28, Matthew Forde 2/27, Gudakesh Motie 4/28).
Toss: Zimbabwe.
PoM: Hetmyer.
Revealed on Feb 23, 2026