MUMBAI: West Indies delivered a batting masterclass at Wankhede on Monday in the T20 World Cup 2026, posting 254 for 6 against Zimbabwe and etching their name in the record books with the highest score in T20 World Cup annals. The Hetmyer-Powell duo was the architect of this carnage.
Sikandar Raza’s decision to field first after the toss invited immediate trouble. Early blows saw King out for 9 (12 balls) and Hope for 14 (12 balls), but Hetmyer (85 off 34, 7×4, 7×6) exploded into life, smashing a half-century in 19 balls. His 122-run alliance with Powell (59 off 35, 4×4, 4×6) reduced Zimbabwe’s bowlers to spectators.
Powell reached fifty in 29 balls, maintaining the onslaught. The tail wagged furiously – Shepherd 21* (10), Holder 13 (4), Rutherford 31* (13, 3×4, 2×6). Muzarabani’s 2/xx was the lone bright spot for Zimbabwe.
Strategic tweaks: West Indies rested Chase for Shepherd; Zimbabwe brought in Ngarava for Masakadza. West Indies XI: King, Hope†, Hetmyer, Powell, Rutherford, Holder, Shepherd, Forde, Hosein, Motie, Joseph. Zimbabwe XI: Bennett, Marumani†, Burl, Raza*, Musakanda, Munyonga, Myers, Evans, Cremer, Ngarava, Muzarabani.
This innings wasn’t just about runs; it was a statement of West Indies’ T20 prowess, leaving Zimbabwe with an uphill battle ahead.