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West Indies vs Scotland T20 World Cup 2026
The Kolkata evening air carried that familiar mix of street-food smoke and anticipation. Floodlights bathed Eden Gardens in golden-white glow. Drums thumped like distant thunder. And even though India wasn’t playing, 55,000 fans packed the stands—maroon jerseys everywhere, Scottish saltires waving proudly, and that unmistakable World Cup buzz crackling through the humid air.
Then came the fireworks.
West Indies didn’t just beat Scotland by 35 runs in their T20 World Cup 2026 opener—they delivered a statement. Shimron Hetmyer’s explosive 64 off 35 balls. Romario Shepherd’s mind-bending 5/20 including the first hat-trick by a West Indian in T20 World Cup history. This wasn’t just two points on a table—it was Caribbean cricket reminding the world why we fell in love with their flair in the first place.
West Indies vs Scotland T20 World Cup 2026: Complete Scorecard
🇼🇮 West Indies Innings – 182/5 (20 overs)
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon King | c Munsey b Davidson | 28 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 140.00 |
| Johnson Charles | lbw b Watt | 15 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Shimron Hetmyer | c Cross b Greaves | 64 | 35 | 4 | 5 | 182.85 |
| Nicholas Pooran (wk) | not out | 38 | 25 | 3 | 2 | 152.00 |
| Rovman Powell (c) | b Wheal | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 120.00 |
| Sherfane Rutherford | run out | 8 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 133.33 |
| Andre Russell | not out | 10 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 200.00 |
| Extras | (lb 2, w 5) | 7 | ||||
| TOTAL | 182/5 | (20 overs) | 15 | 11 | RR: 9.10 |
Fall of Wickets: 1-38 (Charles, 4.2 ov), 2-76 (King, 8.1 ov), 3-156 (Hetmyer, 16.3 ov), 4-168 (Powell, 18.1 ov), 5-172 (Rutherford, 18.5 ov)
Scotland Bowling
- Brad Wheal: 4-0-35-1
- Mark Watt: 4-0-28-1
- Chris Greaves: 4-0-42-1
- Oliver Davidson: 4-0-32-1
- Chris Sole: 3-0-30-0
- Michael Leask: 1-0-13-0
🏴 Scotland Innings – 147 all out (18.5 overs)
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Munsey | c Hosein b Joseph | 28 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 127.27 |
| Michael Jones | c Powell b Motie | 32 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 128.00 |
| Brandon McMullen | b Shepherd | 12 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Richie Berrington (c) | c Pooran b Shepherd | 42 | 28 | 5 | 1 | 150.00 |
| Matthew Cross (wk) | lbw b Shepherd | 15 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Michael Leask | c Russell b Shepherd | 8 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 160.00 |
| Mark Watt | b Shepherd | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Chris Greaves | c King b Shepherd | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Oliver Davidson | c Charles b Shepherd | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Brad Wheal | not out | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Chris Sole | b Holder | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.66 |
| Extras | (lb 1, w 3) | 4 | ||||
| TOTAL | 147 all out | (18.5 overs) | 15 | 4 | RR: 7.81 |
Fall of Wickets: 1-48 (Munsey, 5.3 ov), 2-68 (Jones, 8.1 ov), 3-89 (McMullen, 11.2 ov), 4-121 (Berrington, 14.4 ov), 5-135 (Cross, 16.1 ov), 6-143 (Leask, 17.3 ov), 7-143 (Watt, 17.4 ov), 8-143 (Greaves, 17.5 ov), 9-145 (Davidson, 18.2 ov), 10-147 (Sole, 18.5 ov)
West Indies Bowling
- Akeal Hosein: 4-0-28-1
- Jason Holder: 3.5-0-25-1
- Alzarri Joseph: 3-0-30-1
- Gudakesh Motie: 4-0-32-1
- Romario Shepherd: 4-0-20-5 (Hat-trick: 17.3–17.5 overs)
Player of the Match: Romario Shepherd (5/20 including historic hat-trick)
Hetmyer’s Caribbean Thunder – When Kolkata Held Its Breath
Scotland captain Richie Berrington won the toss and sent West Indies in—smart move, hoping dew would ease Scotland’s chase later. Early on, it looked promising. Brandon King and Johnson Charles nudged singles, respected good balls. At 38/1 after 4 overs, the required rate felt manageable.
Then Hetmyer walked in.
And Eden Gardens transformed.
The left-hander didn’t just hit boundaries—he announced them. That pull shot off Chris Greaves in the 12th over? The ball didn’t just clear deep midwicket—it vanished into the Kolkata night. Crowd gasped, then erupted. Same story three overs later when he launched Mark Watt over long-on for his fifth six.
64 off 35 balls. Fastest fifty by a West Indian in T20 World Cup history (27 balls).
You could feel the shift in the stadium—Indian fans who’d come for the World Cup atmosphere suddenly found themselves chanting “Het-my-er! Het-my-er!” That’s the magic of Caribbean batting: it transcends jerseys.
Scotland replacing Bangladesh added unexpected drama to Group C—but West Indies treated them with full respect. Here’s why Associate nations are reshaping T20 World Cup 2026.
Shepherd’s Spell – Five Balls That Broke Scotland’s Heart
Scotland’s chase started brilliantly. George Munsey’s aggressive 28. Michael Jones’ fluid 32. And Richie Berrington—oh, Berrington—was timing the ball like it owed him money. At 121/4 in the 15th over, Scotland needed 62 from 32 balls with their captain still there. Upset alert.
Then Rovman Powell tossed the ball to Romario Shepherd.
What followed belongs in T20 folklore:
- Ball 1 (17.3 ov): Michael Leask miscues a slower ball to deep midwicket. 135/5.
- Ball 2 (17.4 ov): Mark Watt clean bowled trying to heave. 143/6.
- Ball 3 (17.5 ov): Chris Greaves trapped plumb LBW. HAT-TRICK. Eden Gardens ROARED.
- Ball 4 (18.1 ov): Oliver Davidson caught at cover. Fourth wicket.
- Ball 5 (18.2 ov): Chris Sole bowled. Fifth wicket.
5 wickets in 6 balls. 5/20. First West Indian hat-trick in T20 World Cup history.
Shepherd stood arms wide, roaring at the Kolkata sky. Teammates mobbed him. Even Scottish players nodded in respect—this was special. Pure, unscripted cricket magic.
Why This West Indies vs Scotland T20 World Cup 2026 Clash Mattered
✅ Scotland proved they belong – Berrington’s 42 and early aggression showed why they replaced Bangladesh deservedly. No pushovers here.
✅ West Indies’ middle-order clicked – Hetmyer at No. 3 + Pooran’s finish = the balance they’ve lacked lately. Dangerous combo.
✅ Eden Gardens delivered – 55,000 fans created World Cup atmosphere even without India playing. Proof: Kolkata is cricket’s spiritual home.
⚠️ Scotland’s death bowling faltered – Greaves’ 10.50 economy proved costly. Must tighten lines against England next.
Looking Ahead: Group C Heats Up
West Indies face England on February 10 at Eden Gardens—a blockbuster clash that could decide Group C’s top spot. With Hetmyer in form and Shepherd’s confidence sky-high, the Caribbean side looks dangerous.
Scotland take on Oman on February 9 in Dharamsala. They’ll need Berrington’s leadership again—but must fix those death bowling leaks fast.
Final Word: Caribbean Cricket Is Back
Let’s be real: West Indies cricket has had lean years. Questions about depth. Concerns about consistency. But nights like February 7 at Eden Gardens? They remind us why we never stopped believing.
Hetmyer’s swagger. Shepherd’s fire. That unmistakable Caribbean rhythm that turns cricket into celebration.
Scotland played with heart—they deserved better than a collapse. But in T20 cricket, moments define matches. And Shepherd’s five balls? Those were the moments.
Check the latest points table and upcoming fixtures on the official ICC T20 World Cup website.
Another great resource for in-depth stats and videos is Cricbuzz.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
Who won the West Indies vs Scotland T20 World Cup 2026 match?
West Indies won by 35 runs against Scotland in their T20 World Cup 2026 Group C opener at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. West Indies scored 182/5 in 20 overs; Scotland were bowled out for 147 in 18.5 overs.
Did Romario Shepherd take a hat-trick against Scotland?
Yes—Romario Shepherd took the first hat-trick by a West Indian bowler in T20 World Cup history during the West Indies vs Scotland match. His hat-trick came in the 18th over (balls 17.4–17.6), dismissing Mark Watt, Chris Greaves, and Oliver Davidson consecutively. He finished with figures of 5/20.
How many runs did Shimron Hetmyer score against Scotland?
Shimron Hetmyer scored a blistering 64 runs off just 35 balls against Scotland in the T20 World Cup 2026 match at Eden Gardens. His innings included 4 fours and 5 sixes at a strike rate of 182.85, featuring the fastest fifty by a West Indian in T20 World Cup history (27 balls).
Where was the West Indies vs Scotland T20 World Cup 2026 match played?
The West Indies vs Scotland T20 World Cup 2026 match was played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India. Eden Gardens—one of cricket’s most iconic venues with a capacity of over 66,000—is serving as a key host stadium for the tournament co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Who was Player of the Match in West Indies vs Scotland?
Romario Shepherd was named Player of the Match for his historic bowling performance: 5 wickets for 20 runs in 4 overs, including the first hat-trick by a West Indian in T20 World Cup history. His spell destroyed Scotland’s middle and lower order, turning a competitive chase into a collapse.
Why is Scotland playing in T20 World Cup 2026 instead of Bangladesh?
Scotland replaced Bangladesh in T20 World Cup 2026 after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to travel to India for their group-stage matches citing security concerns. The ICC officially confirmed Scotland’s inclusion on January 24, 2026, as the highest-ranked non-qualifier (14th in T20I rankings) to maintain the 20-team tournament structure.
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