T20 World Cup 2026: West Indies thrash Zimbabwe by 107 runs, put India in precarious position

Mumbai: Former champions West Indies steamrolled Zimbabwe by 107 runs in a Super 8 Group 1 match of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Monday. Thanks to explosive knocks from Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell, West Indies scored 254 for six, the second-highest total in the tournament's history. Hetmyer and Powell also shared a century partnership. Chasing a target of 255, Zimbabwe lost all their wickets in 17.4 overs and could only manage 147 runs. This is one of Zimbabwe's biggest defeats in World Cup history.

The thumping victory by the West Indies has pushed India into a precarious position. The men in blue now need commanding wins in their remaining two matches after suffering a 76-run defeat to South Africa in their opening Super 8 game.

Chasing the West Indies' target of 255, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 147 in 17.4 overs by left-arm spinner Moti (four wickets for 28 runs). Left-arm spinner Hussain took three wickets for 28 runs, while Matthew Ford took two wickets for 27 runs. For Zimbabwe, Brad Evans top-scored with 43 runs off 21 balls, hitting five sixes and two fours. Only Dion Myers (28) and captain Sikandar Raza (27) managed to reach the 20-run mark.

How did Hetmyer perform?

Hetmyer, taking advantage of two lives, scored the best innings of his career, scoring 85 runs off 34 balls, studded with seven sixes and as many fours. He also shared a 122-run partnership for the third wicket with Rovman Powell (59 runs, 35 balls, four fours, four sixes) off 52 balls to take West Indies to 254 for six, the second-highest total in the tournament's history. Sherfane Rutherford also played a quickfire innings, scoring an unbeaten 31 off 13 balls, studded with two sixes and three fours. For Zimbabwe, Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani took two wickets each for 47 and 42 runs respectively. Raza conceded 52 runs in three overs.

How did Zimbabwe perform?

Chasing the target, Zimbabwe got off to a poor start, losing three wickets for 20 runs. Tadiwanashe Marumani (14) tried to play a big shot off Matthew Ford before being caught by Hetmyer at deep backward point. In the next over, left-arm spinner Akil Hossain dismissed opener Brian Bennett (05) and then Ryan Burl for a duck. Bennett, who had scored two half-centuries in the tournament, was dismissed for the first time in the tournament.

Dion Myers (28) smashed sixes off Ford and Hossain. He brought up his team's half-century in the seventh over with a four off Gudakesh Moti, but was bowled by the left-arm spinner's fast-spinning delivery. Tony Munyonga and Raza then steadied the innings. Munyonga hit a six off Moti, while Raza hit a six off Shamar Joseph, taking West Indies to 87 for four in 10 overs.

Raza also hit a six off Moti, but was bowled off the next ball. Moti also bowled Tashinga Musekiwa without scoring a run. Zimbabwe's century came up in the 12th over. However, Munyonga edged Moti to Joseph on the boundary in the next over, scoring 14 runs.

Jason Holder caught Graeme Cremer (0) off his own bowling, while Hussain dismissed Blessing Muzarabani (0). Evans smashed two sixes off Holder and three off Joseph, breaking the previous record of 30 sixes in a T20 World Cup match. Ford had Evans caught by Hussain to secure West Indies' victory.

Kenya holds the shameful record for the biggest defeat in T20 World Cup history. In 2007, Sri Lanka defeated Kenya by 172 runs. Sri Lanka scored 260 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in 20 overs, which is also the highest team total in T20 World Cup history. In response, Kenya could only manage 88 runs in 19.3 overs. This is the record for the biggest win by runs in T20 World Cup history, which still stands today.