In one of the most electrifying T20 innings seen in World Cup history, West Indies stormed to 254 for 6 versus Zimbabwe at Wankhede Stadium on Monday during the 2026 edition. Shimron Hetmyer’s 85 and Rovman Powell’s 59 formed the core of this record-breaking total, the highest ever in T20 World Cups.
Zimbabwe’s captain Sikandar Raza, after winning the toss, inserted West Indies to bat – a call that exposed their bowling frailties. The top order wobbled with King (9/12b) and Hope (14/12b) back in the hut quickly. But Hetmyer and Powell countered with a blistering 122-run third-wicket stand.
Hetmyer’s aggression was unreal: 85 runs from 34 balls, including a 19-ball fifty, powered by 7 boundaries and 7 maximums. Powell played the perfect foil, scoring 59 off 35 (4×4, 4×6) with a 29-ball fifty. Late flourishes from Shepherd (21/10b), Holder (13/4b), and unbeaten Rutherford (31/13b, 3×4, 2×6) sealed the deal.
Only Blessing Muzarabani claimed two scalps for Zimbabwe. Playing changes: Shepherd in for Chase (WI), Ngarava for Masakadza (ZIM).
Squads: West Indies – King, Hope (wk), Hetmyer, Powell, Rutherford, Holder, Shepherd, Forde, Hosein, Motie, Joseph. Zimbabwe – Bennett, Marumani (wk), Burl, Raza (c), Musakanda, Munyonga, Myers, Evans, Cremer, Ngarava, Muzarabani.
West Indies have thrown down the gauntlet; now it’s Zimbabwe’s turn to respond in this pulsating contest.