The last time Zimbabwe featured in a fixture in India, they were eliminated from the T20 World Cup before eventual champions West Indies had even begun their campaign. On Monday (February 23), the Men in Maroon delivered a reminder of that pedigree, producing a display evocative of their 2016 triumph.
Sixes rained down — 19 in total, equalling a World Cup record — as West Indies piled up 254/6, the highest score of the current edition and the second highest in the tournament’s history. Zimbabwe were comprehensively beaten by 107 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in their opening Super Eights match.
Returning to India proved daunting for a side that had impressed in the group stages. The shift from Sri Lanka’s slower tracks to India’s truer batting surfaces was always likely to test Zimbabwe, and they encountered the full force of it as Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell launched a sustained assault that effectively decided the contest in the first half.
Zimbabwe’s task might have taken a different turn had Tashinga Musekiwa held a chance when Hetmyer was on 9. However, under lights — conditions they do not often experience — opportunities slipped away, and the margin of defeat suggests the overall outcome may not have changed significantly.
Brandon King’s struggles continued, offering Zimbabwe early encouragement, and Shai Hope also departed before the end of a powerplay that yielded 55 runs. What followed was a surge of heavy scoring. Hetmyer targeted the spinners, striking Graeme Cremer for successive sixes and then taking on Sikandar Raza, clearing the ropes three times in the Zimbabwe captain’s over. Five sixes in six balls powered him to a 19-ball half-century. Even Raza’s attempt to regain control in his next over failed to stem the flow.
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West Indies reached 115 at the halfway stage. When Cremer found turn to momentarily challenge Powell, there was a brief suggestion of resistance. Powell swiftly ended that notion. If Hetmyer dismantled spin, Powell dominated pace, striking cleanly to reach his own fifty. By the time Brian Bennett produced another sharp catch to break the century partnership, the contest had already swung decisively. The closing overs brought further punishment, with Jason Holder, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd adding more sixes to drive the total beyond realistic reach.
The outcome became clearer as West Indies struck three times within the first 16 deliveries of Zimbabwe’s reply. Akeal Hosein’s dismissal of Bennett — beaten comprehensively — removed a batter who had remained unbeaten throughout the tournament until that point. Shortly after, Ryan Burl also fell. From 20/3, Zimbabwe regrouped admirably. Dion Myers found the boundary at key moments, while Raza recovered after taking eight balls to get off the mark.
Zimbabwe reached 87/4 at the halfway stage, but hopes of batting deep to limit net run rate damage faded when Gudakesh Motie claimed two wickets in successive deliveries. He finished with four wickets, adding another in his final over. In a late flourish, Evans struck five sixes in 10 balls before becoming the 10th wicket to fall.
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The emphatic margin is likely to have wider repercussions. India must now beat Zimbabwe heavily and rely on South Africa to halt West Indies’ unbeaten run if they are to alter the standings.
Brief scores
West Indies 254/6 in 20 overs (Shimron Hetmyer 85, Rovman Powell 59; Blessing Muzarabani 2-42) beat Zimbabwe 147 in 17.4 overs (Dion Myers 28; Gudakesh Motie 4-28, Akeal Hosein 3-28) by 107 runs.
