Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: The West Indies produced a batting spectacle for the ages, smashing the second-highest team total in T20 World Cup history during their Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe at the Wankhede Stadium in the 2026 edition on Monday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The Men in Maroon piled up a staggering 254/6 in 20 overs — a tally bettered only by Sri Lanka’s 260/6 against Kenya in the 2007 T20 World Cup. It was just the second instance of a team crossing the 250-run mark in tournament history. The total also became the highest ever recorded against Zimbabwe in T20Is, surpassing India’s 234/2 at Harare in 2024.
West Indies’ 19 sixes equalled the joint-most in a T20 World Cup innings, matching the Netherlands’ effort against Ireland in Sylhet in 2014. It was also their third 250-plus total in T20Is, tying them with Zimbabwe for the joint-second most such scores.Asked to bat first, West Indies did not have the ideal start. Brandon King fell for nine in the third over to Richard Ngarava, and Shai Hope was dismissed for 14 by Brad Evans as the side reached 55/2 at the end of the powerplay.Shimron Hetmyer then ignited the innings. He launched two successive sixes off Graeme Cremer before taking 20 runs off Sikandar Raza in the next over to bring up a breathtaking 19-ball half-century — the fastest by a West Indian in T20 World Cup history.At the halfway mark, West Indies were 115/2 and never looked back. Hetmyer and Rovman Powell stitched together a 122-run stand, with Powell reaching his fifty in 29 balls. Hetmyer’s explosive 85 off 34 balls — studded with seven fours and seven sixes — laid the foundation before he fell.Despite late wickets, cameos from Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder and an unbeaten 31 off 13 balls by Sherfane Rutherford powered West Indies to a monumental 254/6.
Highest team totals in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
| Team | Score | Overs | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 260/6 | 20.0 | Kenya | Johannesburg | 14 Sep 2007 |
| West Indies | 254/6 | 20.0 | Zimbabwe | Wankhede | 23 Feb 2026 |
| Ireland | 235/5 | 20.0 | Oman | Colombo (SSC) | 14 Feb 2026 |
| England | 230/8 | 19.4 | South Africa | Wankhede | 18 Mar 2016 |
| South Africa | 229/4 | 20.0 | England | Wankhede | 18 Mar 2016 |
| Sri Lanka | 225/5 | 20.0 | Oman | Pallekele | 12 Feb 2026 |
| India | 218/4 | 20.0 | England | Durban | 19 Sep 2007 |
| West Indies | 218/5 | 20.0 | Afghanistan | Gros Islet | 17 Jun 2024 |
| South Africa | 213/4 | 20.0 | Canada | Ahmedabad | 9 Feb 2026 |
| South Africa | 211/5 | 20.0 | Scotland | The Oval | 7 Jun 2009 |
