KEY POINTS
- Romario Shepherd took a sensational hat-trick and 5/20 to dismantle Scotland’s chase of 188.
- Shimron Hetmyer’s explosive 64 off 36 powered West Indies to a strong total of 187/7.
- Scotland’s fightback, led by a 78-run stand from Richie Berrington (42) and Tom Bruce (35).
KOLKATA: A blistering hat-trick and a five-wicket haul from Romario Shepherd headlined a comprehensive 35-run victory faor the West Indies over Scotland in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 opener at Eden Gardens on Saturday.
Caribbean batting sets formidable total
Opting to bat first, the West Indies innings was built on robust foundations. Openers Brandon King (35 off 22) and skipper Shai Hope (19 off 22) provided a solid 50-run start.
The momentum was sustained through the middle overs by Shimron Hetmyer, who played the innings’ centerpiece with a commanding 64 off just 36 balls, peppered with six sixes. Valuable cameos from Rovman Powell (24 off 14) and Sherfane Rutherford (26 off 13) propelled the Caribbean side to a formidable total of 187 for 7.
For Scotland, Brad Currie was the most economical, returning figures of 2-23.
West Indies’ timely breakthroughs set up their #T20WorldCup opener win against Scotland 👏
📝: https://t.co/I1JLfNf5bL pic.twitter.com/YybQ0NYb49
— ICC (@ICC) February 7, 2026
Scotland’s chase stutters, then flickers
Scotland’s reply never found consistent momentum, losing opener Michael Jones early. A brief 30-run stand between George Munsey (19) and Brandon McMullen (14) was cut short, and the Scots found themselves at a precarious 41-3 by the end of the powerplay.
Shimron Hetmyer’s stellar batting and fielding wins him the @aramco POTM award against Scotland 👊 pic.twitter.com/AwgWtSIi96
— ICC (@ICC) February 7, 2026
Captain Richie Berrington (42 off 24) and Tom Bruce (35 off 28) then ignited hope with a swift 78-run partnership, taking the score past 100 and into competitive territory.
Shepherd’s spectacular spell seals the deal
Just as Scotland dared to dream, the West Indies struck back decisively. Jason Holder (3-25) removed the dangerous Berrington to break the threatening stand. The match then transformed into the Romario Shepherd show in the 17th over.
Romario Shepherd picks a five-for to help West Indies seal a win in their #T20WorldCup opener 👊
His haul makes the @marriottbonvoy Milestones of the tournament 👌 pic.twitter.com/GFJqVFScrM
— ICC (@ICC) February 7, 2026
With Scotland needing a surge, the paceman produced a devastating over, claiming five wickets, including a stunning hat-trick, to completely obliterate the lower order.
He dismissed Matthew Cross, Michael Leask, and Oliver Davidson off consecutive deliveries before adding Safyaan Sharif to his tally, finishing with spectacular career-best figures of 5 for 20 in just three overs. Scotland’s innings concluded at 152 all out in 18.5 overs.
A statement start for the men in maroon
The victory marks a powerful start to the West Indies’ World Cup campaign, showcasing a balanced performance with both bat and ball. While Hetmyer’s fireworks set the stage, it was Romario Shepherd’s unforgettable spell, a rare T20I hat-trick combined with a five-wicket haul, that dismantled Scotland.
