&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "T20 World Cup 2026: Two-time champions West Indies make winning start, beat Scotland in Kolkata")
Two-time T20 World Cup champions West Indies made a winning start to their campaign on Saturday (Feb 7) as they got the better of Scotland by 35 runs. Playing at the iconic Eden Gardens, the West Indies made light work of Scotland, who were only drafted into the T20 World Cup as a last-minute replacement for Bangladesh. Shimron Hetmyer was the star of the show, playing a match-winning 64-run knock and was awarded the Player of the Match award.
West Indies make winning start
While defending 183 for his side, Romario Shepherd generated figures of 5/20 in his three overs. During his 17th over, he got wickets of Matthew Cross, Michael Leask, and Oliver Davidson to complete the hat-trick and concluded the over with another wicket of Safyaan Sharif, making it four wickets in an over.
He has taken West Indies' fourth T20I hat-trick, with Jason Holder (against England, Bridgetown 2022), Shepherd (against Bangladesh, Chattogram, 2025), and Shamar Springer (against Afghanistan in Dubai this year) being the other three.
He is also the second West Indies cricketer to take a five-wicket haul in the T20 WC, with Akael Hosein (5/11) being the first to do so against Uganda in the 2024 edition of the tournament.
Shepherd is also the fourth bowler in the history of T20Is (amongst Test-playing teams) to have two hat-tricks in the format, alongside Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga, Australia's Pat Cummins and New Zealand's Tim Southee.
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Earlier, Scotland won the toss and opted to bowl first. A half-century stand from Brandon King (35 in 30 balls, with four boundaries and a six) and skipper Shai Hope (19) started off things for WI. After WI slid to 58/2, Hetmyer, along with Rovman Powell (24 in 14 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) struck a fine 81-run stand for the third wicket. Romario Shepherd (6*) and Matthew Forde (1*) were unbeaten when WI reached 182/5 in 20 overs. Brad Currie (2/23) was the top bowler for Scotland.
In the run chase, Scotland was reduced to 37/3 in 5.4 overs. Skipper Richie Berrington (42 in 24 balls, with three fours and two sixes) and Tom Bruce (35 in 28 balls, with a four and two sixes) put on a 78-run stand for the fourth wicket. From 115/3, Scotland collapsed to 147/10 in 18.5 overs. Shepherd (5/20) and veteran Jason Holder (3/35 in 3.5 overs) were the top bowlers for WI.
