In a spectacular display of power-hitting at the T20 World Cup Super Eights in Mumbai, Shimron Hetmyer’s explosive innings propelled the West Indies to a monumental 254-6 against Zimbabwe on Monday. The Caribbean side’s total stands as the second-highest in the tournament’s history, trailing only Sri Lanka’s 260-6 against Kenya from the inaugural 2007 competition.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza’s decision to field first after winning the toss backfired dramatically as Hetmyer unleashed a batting masterclass. The left-handed batsman entered at 17-1 and received a crucial reprieve early in his innings when Tashinga Musekiwa dropped a straightforward chance at deep fine leg with Hetmyer on just nine runs.
The Guyanese batsman capitalized mercilessly on the lifeline, racing to his half-century in just 19 deliveries—matching South Africa’s Aiden Markram for the fastest fifty of the tournament. Hetmyer’s breathtaking knock featured seven massive sixes and seven boundaries before he was finally dismissed for 85 from 34 balls.
Hetmyer found a formidable partner in Rovman Powell, with the pair constructing a devastating 122-run partnership from just 52 balls. Powell contributed significantly with 59 off 35 deliveries, including four fours and four sixes, before departing in the latter stages.
The carnage continued even after Hetmyer’s dismissal as Sherfane Rutherford (31 not out from 13 balls), Romario Shepherd (21 from 10), and Jason Holder (13 from 3) provided explosive finishes to propel the West Indies well beyond the 200-mark. The Caribbean side comfortably surpassed Ireland’s previous tournament-high of 235-5 against Oman, establishing themselves as serious contenders with this record-breaking performance.