West Indies Crush Zimbabwe in Super 8 Opener
The West Indies kicked off their T20 World Cup Super 8 campaign with a bang, smashing Zimbabwe by 107 runs at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. This victory ended Zimbabwe’s unbeaten streak in the tournament and gave the Caribbean team the highest total of the 2026 World Cup so far.
Despite Zimbabwe winning the toss and choosing to field first, they were overwhelmed by West Indies’ explosive batting. The win maintains West Indies’ perfect record at Wankhede in T20 World Cups and puts them top of their group. As two-time champions, they’ve sent a clear message they’re serious about reaching the semi-finals.
Hetmyer & Rutherford’s Record-Breaking Rampage
West Indies piled up a massive 254/6 – the second-highest score in T20 World Cup history. Shimron Hetmyer was the star, blasting 85 runs off just 34 balls, including eight huge sixes. He reached fifty in only 19 deliveries. Sherfane Rutherford added fireworks late on with 31 runs from 13 balls, helping the team smash 75 runs in the final five overs.
Zimbabwe’s bowlers looked helpless as the ball flew everywhere. Even their most reliable bowler, Blessing Muzarabani, got hammered. Hetmyer’s explosive innings meant Zimbabwe needed an almost impossible 12.75 runs per over from the start – a mountain too high for their first Super 8 appearance.
Motie & Hosein Spin Zimbabwe into Chaos
Zimbabwe collapsed to 147 all out in under 18 overs against West Indies’ disciplined bowling. Akeal Hosein ripped through the top order early, leaving Zimbabwe reeling at 20/3. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie stole the show with career-best figures of 4/28, including the crucial wicket of captain Sikandar Raza.
Raza’s dismissal for just 18 killed off Zimbabwe’s hopes, despite a fun late cameo from Brad Evans (43 off 21 balls). Pacers Alzarri Joseph and Jason Holder cleaned up the tail. This massive win boosts West Indies’ net run rate massively, while Zimbabwe must win their remaining games to stay in contention.
Cricket World Reacts to Windies Domination
Fans and experts exploded online after the match:
Praise for Players & Team
Many highlighted Akeal Hosein’s impact, calling him “a power bank” and “real asset.” Others compared this West Indies team to their dominant 2016 World Cup-winning side.
Tournament Shake-Up
Cricket analysts noted that West Indies and South Africa are now the only unbeaten teams. Some fans joked about “NRR earthquakes” after West Indies’ huge net run rate boost.
Semi-Final Math Madness
Fans passionately debated how the result affects other teams. Many theories emerged about how India’s semi-final chances now depend heavily on the upcoming West Indies vs South Africa clash.
