The Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Vs West Indies Cricket Team Match Scorecard from February 23, 2026, tells the story of a one-sided Caribbean blitz at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. West Indies posted a staggering 254/6 in 20 overs the second-highest total in T20 World Cup history and then bowled Zimbabwe out for 147 in 17.4 overs to seal a comprehensive 107-run victory in Match 44 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eights, Group 1.
Shimron Hetmyer was the architect of destruction, blazing 85 off just 34 deliveries at a strike rate of 250.00 the highest by any batter in T20 World Cup history for an innings of at least 30 balls. Rovman Powell’s 59 off 35 balls added further carnage in the middle overs. In the chase, Zimbabwe crumbled to 20/3 in just 2.4 overs before a futile lower-order rally from Brad Evans (43 off 21) only delayed the inevitable. Gudakesh Motie (4/28) and Akeal Hosein (3/28) were clinical in dismantling Zimbabwe’s batting lineup.
Match Summary Table
| Team | Runs | Wickets | Overs | Run Rate | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Indies | 254 | 6 | 20.0 | 12.70 | Won by 107 runs |
| Zimbabwe | 147 | 10 | 17.4 | 8.33 | Lost |
West Indies won the toss and were asked to bat a decision Zimbabwe would bitterly regret. The Caribbean side shifted gears rapidly after the early powerplay and produced 139 runs in the middle overs (overs 7–15) alone, a record for the phase at the Men’s T20 World Cup. Zimbabwe’s chase never truly got started: three wickets fell before the third over was complete, and despite bursts from Sikandar Raza (27) and Dion Myers (28), the asking rate grew impossibly steep. Only an entertaining 44-run last-wicket stand between Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava a new T20 WC record for the 10th wicket added any gloss to the scorecard.
Batting Highlights Table
West Indies 1st Innings — 254/6 (20 Overs)
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon King | 9 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 75.00 | c Musekiwa b Ngarava |
| Shai Hope (c & wk) | 14 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 116.67 | c Bennett b Evans |
| Shimron Hetmyer | 85 | 34 | 7 | 7 | 250.00 | c Bennett b Cremer |
| Rovman Powell | 59 | 35 | 4 | 4 | 168.57 | c Musekiwa b Muzarabani |
| Sherfane Rutherford | 31 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 238.46 | Not Out |
| Romario Shepherd | 21 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 210.00 | c Burl b Ngarava |
| Jason Holder | 13 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 325.00 | c Munyonga b Muzarabani |
| Matthew Forde | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | Not Out |
| Extras | 21 | — | — | — | — | 10lb, 1nb, 10w |
| Total | 254/6 | — | — | — | — | (20 overs) |
The centrepiece of this innings was the breathtaking 122-run partnership between Hetmyer and Powell for the third wicket a new West Indies record for that wicket position in Men’s T20 World Cup cricket. Hetmyer hit an outrageous 7 fours and 7 sixes, dispatching Zimbabwe’s spinners over the ropes at will. Once he fell for 85 in the 15th over, the carnage did not stop: Rutherford, Shepherd, and Holder unleashed a late blitz that added 78 more in the final five overs, including 19 sixes across the entire innings.
Zimbabwe 1st Innings — 147/10 (17.4 Overs)
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk) | 14 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 175.00 | c Hetmyer b Forde |
| Brian Bennett | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 | b Hosein |
| Dion Myers | 28 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 186.67 | b Motie |
| Ryan Burl | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | c Hetmyer b Hosein |
| Sikandar Raza (c) | 27 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 135.00 | b Motie |
| Tony Munyonga | 14 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 87.50 | c Joseph b Motie |
| Tashinga Musekiwa | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | b Motie |
| Brad Evans | 43 | 21 | 2 | 5 | 204.76 | c Hosein b Forde |
| Graeme Cremer | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | c & b Holder |
| Blessing Muzarabani | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | c Joseph b Hosein |
| Richard Ngarava | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 116.67 | Not Out |
| Extras | 9 | — | — | — | — | 4lb, 5w |
| Total | 147/10 | — | — | — | — | (17.4 overs) |
Zimbabwe’s top order folded in a heap 20/3 inside three overs as Hosein’s double-wicket maiden over was a defining blow. Myers and Raza briefly steadied the ship, but once Motie removed both in quick succession in the 11th over, the middle order fell apart rapidly. The scorecard was reduced to 102/8 by the 13th over. Brad Evans then produced a spectacular cameo of 43 off 21 to at least ensure Zimbabwe crossed 140, sharing a record 44-run last-wicket stand with Ngarava.
Bowling Figures Table
Zimbabwe Bowling (vs West Indies)
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Ngarava | 4 | 0 | 47 | 2 | 11.75 |
| Blessing Muzarabani | 4 | 0 | 42 | 2 | 10.50 |
| Brad Evans | 4 | 0 | 46 | 1 | 11.50 |
| Graeme Cremer | 4 | 0 | 38 | 1 | 9.50 |
| Sikandar Raza | 3 | 0 | 52 | 0 | 17.33 |
| Dion Myers | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 19.00 |
Ngarava and Muzarabani were Zimbabwe’s best bowlers on paper but conceded at well over 10 runs per over on a flat Wankhede pitch. Raza had his worst day in T20 WC history, leaking a record 52 runs in just 3 overs. Cremer was the most economical with 38 runs in 4 overs, but getting the prized scalp of Hetmyer was far too late in the piece.
West Indies Bowling (vs Zimbabwe)
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akeal Hosein | 4 | 1 | 28 | 3 | 7.00 |
| Gudakesh Motie | 4 | 1 | 28 | 4 | 7.00 |
| Matthew Forde | 3.4 | 0 | 27 | 2 | 7.36 |
| Jason Holder | 3 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 8.33 |
| Shamar Joseph | 3 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 11.66 |
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West Indies’ spin duo Motie and Hosein were the match-winners with the ball, each finishing with figures of 4/28 and 3/28 respectively. Hosein’s double-wicket maiden in the second over instantly extinguished any faint hope Zimbabwe had. Motie then scythed through the middle order with four wickets across four overs, removing Myers, Raza, Musekiwa, and Munyonga. Forde was tidy in the powerplay with 2 wickets, while Holder cleaned up the tail efficiently.
Key Moments & Tactical Analysis
Toss Impact: Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field a reasonable call given the dew factor at the Wankhede at night. However, they had no answer for Hetmyer’s assault on their spinners in the second half of the innings.
Powerplay Momentum (Overs 1–6): West Indies reached 54/2 a solid if not explosive start. Hosein then produced a double-wicket maiden at the start of Zimbabwe’s chase to leave them 20/3 inside three overs. The powerplay was decisive.
Turning Point: The Hetmyer–Powell partnership (122 runs for the 3rd wicket, between overs 6 and 16) was effectively the match. It elevated West Indies from a moderate platform to a record-threatening total. In Zimbabwe’s chase, Hosein’s stunning double-wicket maiden in over 2 killed the contest before it could begin.
Captaincy Decisions: Sikandar Raza’s decision to bowl himself proved costly he conceded a record 52 runs in 3 overs without a wicket. Shai Hope’s bowling rotations with spin-heavy attack (Hosein and Motie) was perfectly suited to the Wankhede surface.
Pitch and Dew Factor: The pitch was a belter flat and true, offering minimal assistance to bowlers of any type. The dew settling in Zimbabwe’s innings made the ball harder to grip for their bowlers in the second innings, while West Indies’ spinners with the drier side of the ball extracted more from the surface.
Key Stats Table
| Metric | West Indies | Zimbabwe |
|---|---|---|
| Total Runs | 254/6 | 147/10 |
| Overs Played | 20.0 | 17.4 |
| Extras | 21 | 9 |
| Boundaries (4s) | 16 | 10 |
| Sixes | 19 | 12 |
| Run Rate | 12.70 | 8.33 |
| Top Scorer | Hetmyer – 85 (34) | Evans – 43 (21) |
| Best Bowler | Motie – 4/28 | Muzarabani – 2/42 |
| Fall: 20 Runs | 2 wkts (WI) | 3 wkts (ZIM) |
The difference in sixes (19 vs 12) and run rate (12.70 vs 8.33) tells the story in numbers. West Indies hit 19 sixes the joint-most in a men’s T20 WC innings while Zimbabwe’s 147 was never going to threaten a target of 255. The match aggregate of 401 runs is the highest-ever between these two nations in T20Is.
Head-to-Head Analysis
| Match | Venue | Date | Format | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20 WC 2022 | Hobart | Oct 19, 2022 | T20I | West Indies | 31 runs |
| T20 WC 2026 | Mumbai | Feb 23, 2026 | T20I | West Indies | 107 runs |
(Prior to this tournament, the two sides had met only four times in T20Is. West Indies lead the T20I head-to-head record against Zimbabwe overall.)
In T20 World Cup encounters specifically, West Indies have won both meetings. This 2026 clash was by far the more emphatic of the two, with West Indies looking an entirely different proposition in terms of batting depth and bowling versatility compared to their 2022 edition.
Historical Rivalry
Zimbabwe and West Indies share a relatively limited but increasingly interesting rivalry in white-ball cricket. The two teams last met in a competitive T20I context at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Hobart, where West Indies edged past them by 31 runs in a tighter affair. Before that, their most notable multi-format clashes came in ODI cricket, including the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers in Harare where Zimbabwe produced a famous upset, beating West Indies by 35 runs to qualify for the 50-over World Cup.
In T20Is, this is only the fifth time these nations have faced each other and West Indies have dominated comprehensively at the World Cup stage. Zimbabwe’s rise in the shortest format under Sikandar Raza’s captaincy has been a genuine story of this era, but the gulf between these sides on the biggest stage remains considerable, as the 107-run defeat illustrated. The match aggregate of 401 is the highest-ever T20I match total between the two countries, underscoring just how much power-hitting has grown across both squads in the modern era.
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Conclusion
West Indies’ dominant display in this Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Vs West Indies Cricket Team Match Scorecard has firmly announced their title credentials at T20 World Cup 2026. Hetmyer’s historic 85 and a clinical bowling display made this the biggest victory in runs that West Indies have recorded at this tournament.
For Zimbabwe, their Super Eights campaign hit a significant roadblock. They remain in the fight for qualification to the semi-finals, but the run-rate differential from this defeat may prove difficult to overcome. West Indies, now five wins from five matches, march confidently into the knockout stage as genuine title contenders. Their next challenge in Group 1 will be a closely watched affair with South Africa.
? FAQs
What was the final score?
West Indies 254/6 (20 overs) beat Zimbabwe 147 all out (17.4 overs) by 107 runs.
Who was Player of the Match?
Shimron Hetmyer (West Indies) 85 off 34 balls plus 2 catches.
Who scored the most runs?
Shimron Hetmyer (West Indies) top-scored with 85 runs off 34 balls at a strike rate of 250.00.
Who took the most wickets?
Gudakesh Motie (West Indies) took the most wickets with figures of 4/28 in 4 overs.
What was the turning point?
Akeal Hosein’s double-wicket maiden in the second over of Zimbabwe’s chase removing Brian Bennett and Ryan Burl reduced them to 20/3 and effectively ended the contest.
