West Indies delivered a dominant all-round performance to crush Zimbabwe by 107 runs in their Super Eight opener at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Monday, February 23, 2026. Shimron Hetmyer’s breathtaking 85 off just 34 balls (strike rate 250) powered the two-time champions to 254 for 6 — the second-highest total in T20 World Cup history — before left-arm spinners Gudakesh Motie (4 for 28) and Akeal Hosein (3 for 28) dismantled Zimbabwe for 147 all out in 18.2 overs.
Hetmyer’s 19-ball fifty was the fastest by a West Indian in T20 World Cup history, bettering his own 22-ball record set earlier this tournament against Scotland. West Indies remain unbeaten with five consecutive wins and move to the top of Super Eight Group 1, while Zimbabwe suffered their first loss after topping Group B undefeated.
Table of Contents
Match Summary
Sikandar Raza won the toss and opted to bowl first on a flat deck at the Wankhede. West Indies lost early wickets as Richard Ngarava dismissed Brandon King for 9 with a slower ball and Brad Evans had Shai Hope caught by Brian Bennett for 14. Despite being 55 for 2 after the powerplay, Hetmyer started a carnage at No. 3, his new role identified by coach Daren Sammy to perform Nicholas Pooran’s function.
Dropped twice by Tashinga Musekiwa (on 9 and 70), Hetmyer was particularly severe on spin, smashing 56 runs off just 17 balls against Graeme Cremer and Raza, with all seven of his sixes coming against spinners. He raced to his 19-ball fifty in the eighth over when he took 20 runs off Raza with three sixes. Rovman Powell supported with a patient start before shifting gears to score 59 off 35 balls (four fours, four sixes), including a 106-metre monster over extra-cover off Dion Myers.
The pair put on a blistering 122-run partnership off 52 balls for the third wicket before both fell. Late cameos from Sherfane Rutherford (31*), Romario Shepherd (21) and Jason Holder (13) powered West Indies past 250. West Indies hit 19 sixes and 16 fours — the most sixes in a T20 World Cup innings. In reply, Zimbabwe slumped to 20 for 3 inside three overs as Matthew Forde removed Marumani for 14 and Hosein dismissed both Bennett (delightful delivery) and Burl in the same over.
Motie then produced career-best T20I figures, castling Dion Myers (28) with a skidder and later removing the injured Raza (27) with a delivery that pitched on middle and ripped to hit off. Musekiwa bagged a golden duck after dropping Hetmyer twice, while Hosein’s dismissal of Bennett was another contender for ball of the day. Brad Evans (43 off 21 with five sixes) and Ngarava (unbeaten) added a defiant 44-run last-wicket stand — a T20 World Cup record — before Forde sealed the 107-run victory.
Match Scorecard
| Team | Score | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Indies | 254/6 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | February 23, 2026 |
| Zimbabwe | 147 | 18.2 overs | T20 World Cup 2026, Super Eight Group 1 |
Result: West Indies won by 107 runs (biggest victory in terms of runs at this World Cup) Player of the Match: Shimron Hetmyer (85 off 34 balls) West Indies record: 5-0 unbeaten; top of Group 1 Zimbabwe’s record: First loss (previously 4-0); unbeaten run ends T20 WC history: Second-highest total (254/6); most sixes in innings (19)
First Innings: Hetmyer’s Carnage Powers West Indies to 254
Early Wickets — 55 for 2 in Powerplay
West Indies made a shaky start despite scoring 55 runs in the powerplay. Left-arm quick Richard Ngarava, returning after missing group-stage fixtures against Australia and Sri Lanka with injury, had Brandon King holing out to long leg for 9 off 12 balls with a 101kph slower ball.
In the final over of the powerplay, Brad Evans dug an offcutter into the pitch and had Shai Hope caught spectacularly by Brian Bennett in the outfield for 14 off 12 balls. Despite losing two wickets, Hetmyer was responsible for 20 runs in the powerplay.
Hetmyer’s 19-Ball Fifty — Fastest for West Indies
Hetmyer was just getting started at No. 3. He was particularly severe on spin, cracking Graeme Cremer and Sikandar Raza for 56 off 17 balls, with all seven of his sixes coming against spin.
The 29-year-old raced to a 19-ball half-century, toppling his own record for West Indies’ fastest fifty at a men’s T20 World Cup. Earlier in this tournament, Hetmyer had clubbed a 22-ball fifty against Scotland in Kolkata.
Two Lifelines from Musekiwa
Hetmyer was aided by Zimbabwe’s fielding lapses. Tashinga Musekiwa dropped Hetmyer on 9 off Blessing Muzarabani and then again on 70. Hetmyer added 15 to his tally after the second reprieve before Bennett eventually held onto a chance in the deep off Cremer.
Hetmyer’s final tally: 85 off 34 balls with seven fours and seven sixes at a strike rate of 250.
Powell’s Patient-Then-Explosive Innings
Powell, who was on 15 off 17 balls at one point, teed off when he imperiously whipped Evans over midwicket. He hit three more sixes, including a 106-metre monster over extra-cover off part-time seamer Dion Myers in the 13th over.
Powell pressed on to bring up a 29-ball fifty before being dismissed for 59, with Musekiwa getting third-time lucky and clinging onto a catch. The Powell-Hetmyer partnership yielded 122 runs off just 52 balls for the third wicket — the joint-fastest 100-run partnership in this World Cup.
Late Cameos Push Past 250
Though Powell departed, electric cameos from Sherfane Rutherford (31* off 13 balls, strike rate 238), Romario Shepherd (21 off 10, strike rate 210) and Jason Holder (13 off 4, strike rate 325) powered West Indies past 250.
The team crossed the 150-mark inside 13 overs and finished on 254 for 6 — the second-highest total in T20 World Cup history behind Sri Lanka’s 260 for 6 against Kenya in 2007.
West Indies Batting Performance
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon King | 9 | 12 | Holed out long leg; Ngarava slower ball (101kph) |
| Shai Hope (wk/c) | 14 | 12 | Caught spectacularly by Bennett in outfield; Evans offcutter |
| Shimron Hetmyer | 85 | 34 | SR 250; 19-ball fifty (fastest WI in T20 WC history); 7 sixes, 7 fours; all sixes vs spin; dropped twice (9, 70); caught deep by Bennett off Cremer |
| Rovman Powell | 59 | 35 | 4 fours, 4 sixes; 15 off 17 initially; 29-ball fifty; 106-metre six vs Myers; 122-run stand with Hetmyer off 52 balls |
| Sherfane Rutherford | 31* | 13 | SR 238; electric cameo |
| Romario Shepherd | 21 | 10 | SR 210; late hitting |
| Jason Holder | 13 | 4 | SR 325; quickfire contribution |
19 sixes: Most in T20 WC innings history 16 fours: Total boundaries 254/6: Second-highest T20 WC total
Zimbabwe Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Runs | Wickets | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blessing Muzarabani | 42 | 2 | 2/42; Hetmyer dropped on 9 by Musekiwa |
| Richard Ngarava | — | 1 | King (9, slower ball 101kph) |
| Brad Evans | — | 1 | Hope (14, offcutter, Bennett catch) |
| Graeme Cremer | — | 1 | Economy 9.50 (only under 10); Hetmyer (85, caught deep Bennett) |
| Sikandar Raza | — | 0 | Conceded 20 in 8th over (3 sixes to Hetmyer) |
Second Innings: Spinners Dismantle Zimbabwe
Powerplay Collapse — 20 for 3
Zimbabwe needed a strong start but by the end of three overs, they were three down. Matthew Forde provided the breakthrough with the wicket of Tadiwanashe Marumani (14), while Akeal Hosein knocked the top of off stump to dismiss Brian Bennett on the very next ball. It was the first time in this tournament that Bennett was out.
Hosein’s delivery to Bennett was a delightful one — his stock ball drifted in towards middle and leg and turned away to hit off. Ryan Burl also fell in the same over, leaving Zimbabwe at 20 for 3.
Motie’s Career-Best — 4 for 28
Gudakesh Motie produced career-best T20I figures of 4 for 28. He started the run with a peach of a delivery — a skidder that fizzed off the pitch to castle Dion Myers for 28.
Having hurt his finger in the first innings, Sikandar Raza (27 off 20) came out to bat but only flickered briefly before Motie dismissed him with a delightful delivery that pitched on middle and ripped away to hit off.
Motie also removed Tashinga Musekiwa for a golden duck after the hapless fielder had dropped Hetmyer twice, and later had Tony Munyonga holding out to leave Zimbabwe at 101 for 7 in the 13th over.
Musekiwa’s Misery
After a tough day in the field dropping Hetmyer twice, Musekiwa’s misery ended with a golden duck. The left-arm spinner bowled a peach on length that ripped past his defensive stance to clean the stumps. Motie was also on a hat-trick but couldn’t complete it.
Evans’ Defiant Stand
With the game long gone, Brad Evans added some respectability to the margin of defeat with defiant late hitting, whacking five sixes in his 21-ball 43. Evans and Richard Ngarava added a record 44-run 10th-wicket stand at a T20 World Cup before Forde sealed the victory.
Zimbabwe Batting Performance
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk) | 14 | 8 | Removed by Forde (first over) |
| Brian Bennett | — | — | Bowled by Hosein (delightful delivery; first time out this tournament) |
| Ryan Burl | — | — | Caught by Hetmyer off Hosein (same over as Bennett) |
| Dion Myers | 28 | 15 | Castled by Motie (skidder fizzing off pitch) |
| Sikandar Raza (c) | 27 | 20 | Hurt finger batting; flickered briefly; Motie (pitched middle, ripped to off) |
| Tony Munyonga | — | — | Caught off Motie; 101/7 in 13th |
| Tashinga Musekiwa | 0 | — | Golden duck; Motie bowled (ripped past defensive stance); dropped Hetmyer twice |
| Brad Evans | 43 | 21 | Five sixes; defiant; 44-run 10th-wicket stand with Ngarava (T20 WC record) |
| Graeme Cremer | 0 | — | Caught and bowled Holder |
| Richard Ngarava | — | — | Unbeaten; 44-run 10th-wicket stand |
| Blessing Muzarabani | — | — | Caught by Joseph off Hosein |
20/3: Inside 3 overs 147: All out in 18.2 overs 44: 10th-wicket stand (Evans-Ngarava; T20 WC record)
West Indies Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Runs | Wickets | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gudakesh Motie | 28 | 4 | 4/28; career-best T20I figures; Myers (28, skidder), Raza (27, pitched middle ripped to off), Musekiwa (0, golden duck), Munyonga (caught) |
| Akeal Hosein | 28 | 3 | 3/28; Bennett (delightful delivery, first time out), Burl (same over), Muzarabani (caught Joseph) |
| Matthew Forde | — | 2 | Marumani (14, first over); Evans (43, sealed victory) |
| Jason Holder | — | 1 | Cremer (0, caught and bowled) |
Match-Winning Performance: Shimron Hetmyer
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Batting | 85 off 34 balls (SR 250) |
| Boundaries | 7 fours, 7 sixes (all sixes vs spin) |
| Fifty | 19 balls (fastest WI in T20 WC history) |
| Spin dominance | 56 off 17 balls vs Cremer/Raza |
| Key moment | 20 runs off Raza (8th over; 3 sixes) |
| Lifelines | Dropped on 9 and 70 by Musekiwa |
| Partnership | 122 off 52 balls with Powell (3rd wicket) |
| Quote | “I’m not overthinking my batting. Now trying to think less and bat will do the talking. React to what’s in front of me.” |
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FAQs
What was the final score of West Indies vs Zimbabwe?
West Indies won by 107 runs — WI posted 254/6 (second-highest T20 WC total) and bowled Zimbabwe out for 147 in 18.2 overs at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
What were Shimron Hetmyer’s match-winning statistics?
Hetmyer scored 85 off 34 balls (SR 250) with 7 fours and 7 sixes (all sixes vs spin), including a 19-ball fifty — the fastest by a West Indian in T20 World Cup history.
What were Gudakesh Motie’s bowling figures?
Motie produced career-best T20I figures of 4 for 28, dismissing Myers (28), Raza (27), Musekiwa (0 golden duck) and Munyonga with skillful left-arm spin.
No, it’s the second-highest (254/6). Sri Lanka holds the record with 260/6 vs Kenya in 2007. However, WI’s 19 sixes is the most in a T20 WC innings.
No, it’s the second-highest (254/6). Sri Lanka holds the record with 260/6 vs Kenya in 2007. However, WI’s 19 sixes is the most in a T20 WC innings.
What is West Indies’ record in the tournament?
West Indies remain unbeaten with five consecutive wins (5-0) and sit top of Super Eight Group 1 after this commanding 107-run victory.
