In a Super 8s opener that lived up to the hype, West Indies demolished Zimbabwe by 107 runs at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. Batting first, the defending champions unleashed havoc, racking up 254/6 – the highest total in the tournament so far.
Shimron Hetmyer was the destroyer-in-chief, smashing 85 runs off just 34 balls with a barrage of seven boundaries and seven maximums. His aggressive strokeplay put Zimbabwe’s bowlers on the back foot early. Rovman Powell built on the momentum, blistering 59 off 35, and Rutherford’s late flourish of 31* off 13 ensured a daunting target.
Zimbabwe’s chase never got off the ground. Openers Brian Bennett (5) and Tadiwanashe Marumani (14) fell cheaply, setting a shaky foundation. Akeal Hosein’s wizardry accounted for Ryan Burl without scoring, and Gudakesh Motie’s four-wicket haul (4/28) ripped through the lineup. Dion Myers’ 28 off 15 provided fleeting hope, but Sikandar Raza’s 27 and Brad Evans’ 43 couldn’t mount a comeback.
Hosein complemented Motie with 3/28, as West Indies’ spinners choked the life out of Zimbabwe’s batting. This clinical all-round display underlines West Indies’ credentials as title contenders. For Zimbabwe, it’s back to the drawing board in a must-win group.