West Indies posted the second-highest total in T20 World Cup history and defeated Zimbabwe by 107 runs in the Super Eights on Monday.
West Indies took the team record to 254-6 as Shimron Hetmyer (9 and 70) hit 85 with 7 sixes off 34 balls and Rovman Powell hit 59 from 35 balls.
West Indies batsmen hit 19 sixes. Their total is just six points shy of Sri Lanka’s World Cup record of 260-6 against Kenya in 2007.
Jason Holder celebrates with Matthew Forde during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Zimbabwe and West Indies (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
“The win actually means a lot, especially because of the fact that we didn’t get much from the last game,” said matchmaker Hetmyer.
“So I’m just trying to keep repeating and continuing to do the same things that I’ve been doing for the past few months and what’s been working so far.
“In the past, I’ve been thinking too much about when I’m going to go to bat, what I’m going to do when I get out, etc.
“So now I’m trying to think less and let the bat do as much of the thinking and talking for me. I just have to react to everything that’s in front of me.”
Zimbabwe were all out for 147 in 17.4 overs. Left-arm spinners Gutakeshi Moti (4-28) and Akeal Hossain (3-28) did most of the damage. Brad Evans, the No. 8 hitter, led the way with 21 hits for 43.
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Zimbabwe’s Tashinga Musekiwa dropped West Indies’ Shimron Hetmyer twice but failed to impress captain Sikandar Raza.
But when fielder Tashinga Musekiwa dropped Hetmyer twice for 85, the Zimbabwe team were left feeling truly frustrated.
A total of 31 sixes were hit during the match, a Men’s T20 World Cup record.
West Indies led Group 1 in net run rate against South Africa. Defending champions India and Zimbabwe lost their first matches of the tournament.
West Indies play South Africa in Ahmedabad next Thursday, while India also play Zimbabwe in Chennai.
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