Shimron Hetmyer Smashes Record Fifty in Stunning T20 World Cup Knock

Hetmyer Reclaims No. 3 Spot with a Stunning Display of Power and Precision

West Indies batter Shimron Hetmyer delivered a breathtaking innings that reaffirmed his class at the No. 3 position, producing a knock filled with aggression, elegance, and fearless intent. His performance came at a crucial moment, turning pressure into dominance and igniting the West Indies’ charge.

Head coach Daren Sammy had been expressing quiet confidence in Hetmyer’s potential for weeks, hinting that something special was building. That belief appeared justified during a remarkable over after the drinks break. After calmly seeing off two deliveries, Hetmyer unleashed a brutal sequence — six, six, six, dot, six, wide, six — reaching a historic milestone by recording the fastest fifty by a West Indies batter in T20 World Cup history. His celebration, marked by a pointed salute toward the dugout, seemed a clear tribute to the backing he has received.

Hetmyer’s journey has been years in the making. A decade ago, he captained the West Indies Under-19 side to World Cup glory, showing leadership and discipline rather than explosive power. Today, he is an entirely different force — a batter who visibly reacts when timing fails him and thrives on attacking instinct. Even a single wide delivery in his explosive over appeared to frustrate him, underlining the hunger that now defines his game.

Zimbabwe had started strongly, buoyed by the return of pace bowler Richard Ngarava, who came back into the lineup following injury. Backed by words of encouragement from West Indies legend Courtney Walsh, Ngarava and fellow quick Blessing Muzarabani kept things tight early, conceding very few runs and building pressure. West Indies crawled to 7 without loss in the first two overs, creating a tense atmosphere.