T20 World Cup: Hetmyer, Powell lead Caribbean carnival at the Wankhede

Shimron Hetmyer was searing. Rovman Powell was remorseless. And when the all-rounders muscled in, West Indies turned the Super Eight Group 1 clash into a carnival of Caribbean carnage, clubbing Zimbabwe into submission at the Wankhede Stadium on a manic Monday night.

Powered by a 122-run partnership off just 52 balls between Hetmyer (85, 34b, 7×4, 7×6) and Powell (59, 35b, 4×4, 4×6), West Indies racked up a gargantuan 254 for six — the second-highest total in Men’s T20 World Cup history. Zimbabwe, burdened by the asking rate and the occasion, wilted in reply and was bundled out for 147 in 17.4 overs. The two-time champion won by 107 runs even as Brad Evans waged a lone battle with a 21-ball 43.

When Sikandar Raza opted to chase, he would have hoped the in-form Blessing Muzarabani and the returning Richard Ngarava would exploit the evening sea breeze. And there was an early opening. Had Tashinga Musekiwa held on to a chance at deep square-leg in the fourth over off Muzarabani, Hetmyer’s evening would have been cut short. and Zimbabwe may have put West Indies under pressureInstead, the left-hander unleashed mayhem.

Hetmyer transformed the middle overs into a highlight reel of leg-side brutality, his 108-metre six off Raza — which clattered into the North Stand’s top tier railing — the standout strike of the night. Powell, patient for his first 20 deliveries, then joined the range-hitting revelry with ruthless precision.

West Indies plundered 19 sixes and 16 fours. Raza, who also copped a blow on his non-bowling palm, endured a torrid spell. Only three overs — the first two and the 11th — passed without a boundary. If the first 10 overs yielded 115 runs, the last 10 produced a whopping 139.

With scoreboard pressure sky-high, Zimbabwe unravelled. Left-arm spin twins Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie methodically dismantled the chase, as desperate strokes replaced disciplined intent.

For Zimbabwe, it was a harsh initiation into the Super Eight, while for the West Indies, it was a statement steeped in swagger.

The scores: West Indies 254/6 in 20 overs (Shimron Hetmyer 85, Rovman Powell 59, Sherfane Rutherford 31 n.o., Richard Ngarava 2/47, Blessing Muzarabani 2/42) bt Zimbabwe 147 in 17.4 overs (Brad Evans 43, Akeal Hosein 3/28, Matthew Forde 2/27, Gudakesh Motie 4/28).

Toss: Zimbabwe.

PoM: Hetmyer.