West Indies Vs Zimbabwe: Windies Hammer Zimbabwe by 107 Runs to Top Group 1 in Super 8

The latest chapter in the west indies vs zimbabwe rivalry ended in a one-sided result as the Windies crushed Zimbabwe by 107 runs in Mumbai to start their Super 8 stage, registering a fifth victory from five in this tournament. The margin and the performance matter because they moved the Windies to the top of Group 1 on net run-rate and underlined their momentum heading deeper into the competition.

West Indies Vs Zimbabwe — Match snapshot

West Indies posted 254-6, which stood as the second-highest total in T20 World Cups. Zimbabwe were dismissed for 147 in 17. 4 overs. Individual scorelines: Evans 43 off 21 balls for Zimbabwe; key bowling returns included Gudakesh Motie 4-28 and Akeal Hosein 3-28 for the Windies. The game finished as a 107-run victory for the Windies, their fifth win from five matches in the tournament.

Batting blitz: Hetmyer and Powell set the tone

Shimron Hetmyer delivered an explosive cameo, smacking a 19-ball fifty before finishing on 85 off 34 balls. Nicholas Powell contributed a major supporting innings with 59 off 35. Those contributions propelled the Windies to 254-6, a total noted as the second-highest ever at a T20 World Cup.

Bowling and innings decay: Motie and Hosein decisive

Zimbabwe’s chase collapsed under pressure. Gudakesh Motie claimed 4-28, and Akeal Hosein added 3-28, restricting Zimbabwe to 147 in 17. 4 overs. Evans was the lone substantial score for Zimbabwe with 43 from 21 balls as the Windies’ bowling attack produced the clinical finishes needed to secure a large-margin victory.

Captains' reactions and reflections

West Indies captain Shai Hope praised the collective batting, saying the side enjoyed the performance and that contributions from multiple players produced a high tally. He noted surprise at the amount of spin on the surface given its tougher nature, and highlighted how the spinners were used in the back end of the innings. On Gudakesh Motie, Hope emphasised the value of time away from the game and commended Motie for returning after focused work on his skills; he expressed hope that Motie can continue contributing in the rest of the games.

Zimbabwe captain Sikander Raza outlined a forward-looking plan, saying the team would attempt an extra in their next outing and remain open to how events would play out. Raza did not want the team to dwell on venues and argued that learning requires the right attitude rather than looking for excuses. He added that if Zimbabwe want to progress they must play their best cricket at any venue, whether in India or in Sri Lanka, and framed the next challenge as one of performance. On facing India in Chennai, he said that despite the bruising from this match Zimbabwe would still aim to win and earn a good performance, noting that two teams had lost two games and that both had something to prove.

Match context, reaction and next steps

Observers described the contest as an absolute cracker and noted enjoyment in reliving the contest through match coverage. A match report by Timothy Abraham was suggested for a full relive of the 107-run victory. There was also a self-reflective aside about an earlier prediction for an England v Zimbabwe final, with the simple note: in retrospect, perhaps not. Readers were invited to have their say using the 'Get Involved' button on the coverage page.

Looking ahead, fans were reminded to join coverage for the forthcoming encounter between England and Pakistan, with live text coverage starting at 13: 00 GMT tomorrow.

Closing takeaways

• Result: Windies beat Zimbabwe by 107 runs in Mumbai to begin Super 8 stage.
• Batting: Windies 254-6 (second-highest T20 World Cup total); Hetmyer 85 off 34, Powell 59 off 35; Hetmyer hit a 19-ball fifty during his knock.
• Bowling: Zimbabwe 147 (17. 4 overs); Evans 43 off 21; Motie 4-28; Hosein 3-28.
• Standings: Windies top Group 1 on net run-rate after five wins from five.

Shimron Hetmyer was singled out for his batting heroics, while Gudakesh Motie earned plaudits for his bowling exploits. Details in this article are drawn only from the match coverage and statements provided immediately after the game; any further developments are unclear in the provided context.