West Indies posted the second highest total in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup history and massacred Zimbabwe by 107 runs in their opening Super 8s match on Monday night.
West Indies blasted a whopping team record 254-6 off 20 overs – just six runs from the all-time T20 World Cup high of 260-6 by Sri Lanka against Kenya in 2007.
Shimron Hetmyer smashed 85 off 34 balls with seven sixes, and Rovman Powell hit 59 off 35 balls after being asked to bat first on a good pitch at the Wankhede in Mumbai. The West Indies batsmen counted 19 sixes – the most ever in a T20 World Cup match. In all, 31 sixes were hit during this game, another record in men’s T20 World Cups.
Zimbabwe were then bowled out for 147 in 17.4 overs. Left-arm spinners Gudakesh Motie (4-28) and Akeal Hosein (3-28) did most of the damage in the emphatic win which saw the Windies go top of their group.
Earlier, Hetmyer’s blistering half century came off 19 balls, which is the record for the fastest 50 by a West Indian at a T20 World Cup. Powell hit four sixes in his 59 runs off just 35 balls. Powell and Hetmyer put on 122 for the third wicket after the West Indies were 54-2 in the sixth over. Their partnership came off just nine overs in a sensational period of power-hitting.
After they fell, there was more six-hitting in store. Sherfane Rutherford blasted 31 not out off 13 balls with two sixes, Romario Shepherd scored 21 off 10 balls with three sixes, while Jason Holder thumped two massive maximums in a cameo 13 off four balls.
West Indies have so far played unbeaten in the global marquee event. They topped Group C with wins over Scotland, England, Nepal and Italy. This is their first Super 8 match. Next up are South Africa on Thursday evening and then India on Sunday night. (PS)
The post Hetmyer leads Windies in massive World Cup win over Zimbabwe appeared first on nationnews.com.