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Shimron Hetmyer's 19-Ball Fifty Powers West Indies to Victory Over Zimbabwe

Shimron Hetmyer blasted the fastest fifty by a West Indies batter in T20 World Cup history, reaching the milestone in just 19 balls against Zimbabwe. His explosive innings of 85 runs from 34 deliveries, featuring seven sixes and seven fours, propelled the West Indies total. Hetmyer's assault included taking 20 runs from a single over bowled by Sikandar Raza. He was well-supported by Rovman Powell, with the pair adding a devastating 122-run partnership in just 52 balls.

Key Points: Hetmyer Slams Fastest T20 WC Fifty for West Indies

  • Fastest T20 WC fifty for WI (19 balls)
  • Scored 85 off 34 deliveries
  • Equalled record for most sixes in a tournament
  • 122-run partnership with Powell
2 min read

Shimron Hetmyer slams fastest T20 WC fifty for West Indies, scores 34-ball 85 against Zimbabwe

Shimron Hetmyer scored a 34-ball 85, including a record 19-ball fifty, to lead West Indies against Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup 2026.

"there was no looking back for the left-hander - Match Report"

Mumbai, February 23

West Indies' power-hitter Shimron Hetmyer recorded the fastest fifty by a West Indies batter in the history of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup during his side's clash against Zimbabwe in the 2026 edition at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday. The left-hander brought up his half-century in just 19 balls.

With this effort, Hetmyer surpassed his own previous record of a 22-ball fifty against Scotland at the Eden Gardens earlier in the T20 World Cup 2026.

Hetmyer was eventually dismissed in the 15th over after a blistering 34-ball 85, an innings studded with seven sixes and seven fours. With his seven maximums in the match, Hetmyer equalled the record for the joint-most sixes in a single T20 World Cup edition, tying with Nicholas Pooran's record of 17 maximums in the T20 World Cup 2024.

After being put in to bat first, West Indies lost Brandon King early. Coming in to bat at number 3, Hetmyer opened his account straightaway, as he smashed a boundary on the very first ball that he faced by Richard Ngarava. In Richard Ngarava's third over, Hetmyer scored three consecutive boundaries and from then on, there was no looking back for the left-hander.

He slammed two sixes off Graeme Cremer in the seventh over and then took on the opposition captain, Sikandar Raza, and hit him for three sixes in an over, taking 20 runs in the eighth over.

He launched yet another onslaught on Raza as he scored two boundaries and a six in the 10th over. Cremer eventually claimed Hetmyer's wicket in the 15th over, after scoring 86 off 34 balls.

At the other end, Rovman Powell also played a scintillating knock as well, registering a 29-ball half-century. Powell was dismissed after scoring 59 off 35 deliveries. The duo stitched together a 122-run partnership in just 52 balls, putting West Indies firmly in control of the contest with their explosive middle-order stand.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Amazing hitting, but honestly, the bowling looked very ordinary. Zimbabwe's field placements and bowling changes were questionable. You can't give a player like Hetmyer width and length on a platter at Wankhede. Still, credit where it's due - he smashed them.
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Aman W
Fastest fifty for WI in T20 WC history! And he broke his own record. That's some achievement. The partnership with Powell (122 in 52 balls!) is what sealed the game. This is why T20 is so thrilling. Hope the final is this exciting.
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Sarah B
As a cricket fan living in Mumbai, I wish I was at Wankhede for this! The atmosphere must have been electric. Hetmyer is so fun to watch when he's in this kind of form. Seven sixes and seven fours - perfectly balanced, as all things should be!
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Karthik V
Respectful criticism: While the batting was brilliant, the article focuses only on the glamour. What about the context? Was this a must-win game? How does this impact their semi-final chances? A bit more analysis would be helpful for us fans who follow the tournament closely.
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Nikhil C
𝗪𝗼𝘄! Just wow. 19-ball fifty is insane pace. Equalling Pooran's sixes record too. West Indies are peaking at the right time. Hope they go all the way, they play the kind of cricket we all love. 🔥 #T20WorldCup

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