Hetmyer confirms his quality at number 3 with a stunning delivery that stunned Zimbabwe and left the Wankhede Stadium crowd in awe.
The West Indies batsman hit the fastest fifty by a Caribbean player in T20 World Cup history and announced his arrival on the biggest stage with seven monstrous sixes.
How Hetmyer once again demonstrated his quality with a record-breaking shot
The moment Hetmyer affirmed his qualities became undeniable during a brutal scene after the drinks break. He went 6, 6, 6, point, 6, wide, 6 in an incredible display of raw power. Consequently, he reached his fifty in the record time for a West Indies batsman in World Cup history.
His celebration included a greeting from the dugout, likely in recognition of coach Daren Sammy, who had been saying for weeks that something special was coming. Sammy’s mid-match intervention proved prophetic as Hetmyer reaffirmed his qualities immediately after their conversation.
The numbers behind the innings
|
statistics |
figure |
|
Scored runs |
85 |
|
Balls faced |
34 |
|
Sixes |
7 |
|
Hit rate |
250 |
|
Fifties |
Fastest to WI in the T20 WC |
From finisher to No. 3: a tactical masterpiece
Hetmyer confirms his quality in a new role after West Indies entrusted him with the No.3 position following Nicholas Pooran’s retirement from the national team. Previously considered a death-over specialist, Hetmyer has taken on this broader canvas with remarkable success.
Shai Hope explained the reasons after the game. “He is a first-class player. Sometimes he is quite wasted when he bats at the end of the innings. He is such a good player, he can bat in all situations, spin and pace. To use him at this stage, he comes and plays with the freedom that we want him to have. He has been an asset to us.”
Also read: Player Grades: Cavs at Hornets – Donovan Mitchell’s 100th 30-point game seals victory
Buy West Indies cricket gear on Amazon:
Sikandar Raza’s gamble backfires
Zimbabwe’s captain tried everything and even managed a second over after conceding 20 runs in his first. His goal was to destroy the partnership between Hetmyer and Rovman Powell. In T20 cricket, there are five yards between genius and defeat. Raza’s gut feeling didn’t pay off and the hero became a victim.
The technical brilliance behind the brutality
Hetmyer confirms his quality through a combination of raw power and sophisticated technology. His backlift goes all the way over his head and comes down without any force. But he also showed finesse, as backcuts required patience and precise placement behind the tip.
West Indies attempted 46 lofted shots from 120 balls, 35 of which came after Sammy’s tactical intervention. They finished with the highest total of sixes (19) in the history of the Men’s T20 World Cup. Hetmyer personally contributed seven of them.
A decades-long journey to this moment
Ten years ago, Daren Sammy stood on a team bus and praised “Shimron Hetmyer and his team” for winning the U19 World Cup. Back then, Hetmyer captained the junior team to glory but managed just two sixes in six youth ODIs.
Now Hetmyer is underlining his qualities on the senior stage and showing how far he has come. The wide in his 6,6,6, point,6, wide,6 sequence will give him nightmares, but Zimbabwe will have nightmares about everything else.
Also read: Prince Andrew has been arrested by British police in an unprecedented royal scandal
What this means for the West Indies
In this innings, Hetmyer stands alongside West Indies’ legendary No.3 batsmen. Somewhere, Nicholas Pooran and Marlon Samuels may have been watching, smiling. However, they should be on their guard. “Hetty is on their heels,” as the saying goes.
The victory strengthens the West Indies’ position in the tournament. With Hetmyer firing at No.3, they have a weapon that can destroy any bowling attack. His ability to master both spin and pace makes him invaluable in the middle overs.
Buy cricket fan essentials on Amazon:
Sources:
This match report is based on the T20 World Cup Super Eights match between West Indies and Zimbabwe, including post-match commentary from Shai Hope and match statistics.
Track Live Results: ESPNcricinfo
Tournament Updates: ICC T20 World Cup
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Additionally, this article contains affiliate links to the products mentioned above. Therefore, we may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through these links.
Also read: Marsh cracks 54 points in Australia post-competitive total; Kusal Perera as Sri Lanka Bowler
