Hat-Trick Turns Game as Windies Beat Scotland
AFP/APP
Kolkata: Pace bowler Romario Shepherd took the first hat-trick of the 2026 T20 World Cup on Saturday to help the West Indies blow away Scotland’s tail and win by 35 runs in their Group C opener in Kolkata.
Shepherd grabbed four wickets in five balls in the 17th over to put an end to Scotland’s hopes of chasing their target of 183.
Shimron Hetmyer’s 36-ball 64 at Eden Gardens earlier propelled the West Indies to 182-5 in their 20 overs.
The Scots, who only received a call-up two weeks ago to replace Bangladesh, were threatening a famous victory at 114-3 at the end of the 13th over, with big-hitting captain Richie Berrington and Tom Bruce at the crease.
A 78-run fourth-wicket partnership between Berrington, who made 42, and Tom Bruce (35) had put them back in the hunt.
But strikes by Jason Holder and then Shepherd’s burst saw Scotland bowled out for 147.
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Shepherd removed Matthew Cross (11), Michael Leask and Oliver Davidson, celebrating wildly before finishing with an impressive 5-20 from his three overs.
Holder wrapped up the Scotland innings in 18.5 overs, finishing with figures of 3-30 in 3.5 overs.
Earlier, Scotland won the toss and elected to field, initially putting the West Indies on the back foot with disciplined bowling.
Opener Brandon King made 35, cutting loose in the seventh over by hitting pace bowler Safyaan Sharif for a six and two fours off successive balls.
Scotland rotated their bowlers and Leask struck the first blow with his off-spin, bowling skipper Shai Hope for 19.
King fell next, caught at backward point off debutant left-arm spinner Oliver Davidson for his maiden T20 wicket.
Left-hander Hetmyer then took charge, hitting six sixes in total and sharing an 81-run stand off 37 balls with Rovman Powell, who scored 24.
Hetmyer reached his half-century off just 22 balls with a six.
Powell was dismissed, but Hetmyer kept up the attack with fellow left-hander Sherfane Rutherford, who smashed a 13-ball 26.
Hetmyer fell to Sharif, with Brandon McMullen taking a stunning catch at long-on, and Rutherford followed on the first ball of the next over.
Left-arm pacer Brad Currie returned figures of 2-23.
