Darren Sammy and Sulieman Benn had produced the third and fourth best bowling figures in Twenty20 internationals as the visitors were bowled out for 105.
But Elton Chigumbura crashed an ultimately crucial 34 from 19 balls late on to give Zimbabwe a slim hope - and they responded with 18 overs of uninterrupted spin to leave the WIndies 66 for seven and unable to get close.
Giant spinner Benn was handed the new ball and the left-armer responded with figures of four for six from his four overs.
He set the tone by clean bowling Vusi Sibanda with the first ball of the match, and then removed Tatenda Taibu lbw and had Stuart Matsikenyeri caught behind by Denesh Ramdin in his second over.
At that stage he had taken three for nought, and he added the scalp of Brendan Taylor for the fourth duck of the innings to leave the minnows on 11 for four from 4.3 powerplay overs.
Opener Hamilton Masakadza had watched the carnage unfold from the other end and responded with a measured 44, putting on 40 for the fifth wicket with Greg Lamb (11) before both fell to Sammy.
Chigumbura was spared on eight as Kemar Roach's football skills deserted him when faced with a run-out chance from point-blank range.
He took full advantage with two fours and two sixes as the 19th over, from Ravi Rampaul, went for 22 amid a hail of full tosses and no-balls.
Sammy removed Chigumbura, Shingirai Masakadza and captain Prosper Utseya in the final over to finish with five for 26 and the hosts' opening pair, Adrian Barath and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, then put on a composed 21 in six overs before the former fell for eight.
But Andre Fletcher, Kieron Pollard and Darren Bravo went cheaply as Graeme Cremer (three for 11) and Lamb (two for 14) did the bulk of the damage in the middle overs.
When the latter removed Chanderpaul for 20 the WIndies' hope was ebbing away and, despite a defiant 23 not out from keeper Ramdin, they needed 33 from the final over and came up well short.
By Gagandeep
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