I'm currently mulling over a story which is set in a medieval time period, and I want to try and make the combat fairly realistic. There's one particular battle where a character is fighting an enormous opponent wielding a two-handed greatsword, whilst himself wielding a longsword and heater shield. The character is disarmed and knocked onto his back, and his shield takes a series of heavy downward blows from the greatsword until he is able to roll away and retrieve his weapon. However, as he clambers to his feet, he takes another blow to his shield, which shatters it and severely wounds him.

Is this plausible? I'm not sure how easily one could break a shield. Would it be more plausible for his opponent to cut a chunk out of it and get through that way rather than outright shattering it? Sorry this isn't a particularly thought-provoking question and sorry if I've posted in the wrong sub. I wasn't sure where else to post.