Zimbabwe had arrived at this Super Eight clash on the back of a promising performance in the first phase. The African team defeated Australia and Sri Lanka in the group stage and were unbeaten in their first four matches.
Electing to field first, Zimbabwe restricted West Indies to 55/2 in powerplay, but couldn’t keep a lid on the power-packed batting line-up for too long.
Hetmyer, who was given two lives, including one when he was only on nine, made Zimbabwe pay dearly. He brought up his 50 with a six off captain Sikandar Raza. The 19-ball half-century was the fastest by a West Indian batter in T20 World Cups and the joint fastest of this edition.
A fiery knock of 85 off 34, balls studded with seven fours and seven sixes, finally ended with Brian Bennett holding on to the catch on the boundary off Graeme Cremer.
After a steady start, Rovman Powell (59) also shifted into high gear, scoring his 50 in 29 balls. The power-packed West Indies breezed past milestones – Powell-Hetmyer brought up the joint fastest 100-run partnership in this World Cup and the team crossed the 150-mark inside 13 overs.
The West Indies blitz continued even after Hetmyer and Powell were sent back. They hit a total of 19 sixes and 16 fours to bring up the first 250 of this World Cup.
