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- West Indies vs Scotland highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Romario Shepherd's hat-trick leads West Indies to victory over Scotland
West Indies vs Scotland highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Romario Shepherd's hat-trick leads West Indies to victory over Scotland
Shimron Hetmyer had earlier set up the commanding win with a fluent 64 and taking the West Indies to 182/5, before Shepherd sealed the contest with a fiery burst in the death overs – taking four wickets in five balls of the 17th over.
It also made Shepherd the first bowler to pick a hat-trick in the ongoing tournament and tenth overall in the history of the competition. Scotland were going well in the chase by reaching 115/3 in 13.1 overs, with skipper Richie Berrington and Tom Bruce, former New Zealand international, threatening to take the game deep.
But Jason Holder struck a decisive blow by dismissing Berrington to get his 100th T20I wicket scalp and from there with Shepherd also striking to get his second hat-trick in the format, Scotland’s innings unraveled and were bowled out for 147 in 18.5 overs – losing their last seven wickets for just 32 runs.
After nearly a month of discussions with the Bangladesh Cricket Board, the ICC were ultimately compelled to replace Bangladesh with Scotland, resulting in a dramatic entry for the Europeans just two weeks before the tournament got underway.
Bangladesh were scheduled to play four group matches in India, three of them in Kolkata, but the BCB stayed firm on its decision not to travel, citing "security concerns".
The chain of events was triggered on January 3, when the BCCI instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad amid worsening ties between India and Bangladesh.
Matters escalated the following day when the BCB informed the ICC that the Bangladesh team would not travel to India for its matches and held its ground, clearing the path for Scotland’s inclusion based on rankings.
However, Scotland, who finished fourth in the European Qualifier behind the Netherlands, Italy and Jersey, have insisted they are far more than last-minute replacements.
"We're very sympathetic towards Bangladesh players. But we still massively believe that we should be here," left-arm spinner Mark Watt, one of Scotland’s most experienced campaigners with 77 T20Is and 82 ODIs, said on the eve of the opener.
"We had a blip in the summer and we believe that we should be here and we believe that we can be beating teams higher ranked than us. So there's no second guessing our invite into this tournament. We're all ready to go," he added.
Jason Holder to Matthew Cross, Oh...what happened there? Short of a length and around off, Matthew Cross uses his feet and punches it through cover-point and turns around for the second run. The throw comes in at the keeper's end, where Shai Hope collects the ball but fails to whip the bails. Cross puts in a dive but the replay shows that it would not have been enough had Shai taken the bails off.
Time for the final Drinks break of the contest. The game was going away from the Windies side but a timely dismissal of Richie Berrington has given them the upper edge once again in this tight contest. Matthew Cross replaces Richie Berrington in the middle and he will have to play the perfect anchor to Tom Bruce, who has found his footing in this innings. 68 more needed off the last 40 balls.
Jason Holder to Richie Berrington, OUT! TAKEN! A timely breakthrough for West Indies, and Jason Holder gets his 100th T20I wicket, first Windies bowler to reach that milestone. He bangs this short and outside off, rolls his fingers to take pace off. Richie Berrington backs away and cuts it but fails to get the elevation on this one. It flies straight to deep point, where Shamar Joseph makes no mistake. Berringtone departs for a fine 42 off 24, and the quick-fire 78-run stand has been broken now.
Jason Holder to Tom Bruce, In the blockhole, outside off, Tom Bruce squeezes it out towards deep point for a single.
- Richie Berrington 42 (23)
- Tom Bruce 33 (24)
Gudakesh Motie to Richie Berrington, Dragged back and around off, Richie Berrington makes room and slaps it wide of long off. Jason Holder runs to his left and does well to make the stop. Two taken. 4 double-digit overs in a row now!
Gudakesh Motie to Tom Bruce, A bit fuller and quicker too, on off, Tom Bruce steers it towards point for one.
Gudakesh Motie to Tom Bruce, SIX! That is outta here! Gudakesh Motie drags his length back, on middle, begging it to be put away. Tom Bruce transfers his weight on the back foot and smokes it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.
Gudakesh Motie to Richie Berrington, Tossed up, full and around off, Richie Berrington lofts it down to long off for one.
Tom Bruce has been dropped for the second time. At first, it was Jason Holder and now it's Matthew Forde.
Gudakesh Motie to Tom Bruce, DROPPED! Another chance goes begging! Flighted, full and outside off, Tom Bruce backs away and reaches out for it. He tries to loft it but gets no power as it flies towards extra cover. Matthew Forde dives forward but spills it out. Bruce is using all his luck here. They cross.
Gudakesh Motie to Tom Bruce, Floated, full and on middle, Tom Bruce uses his feet to slog it over mid-wicket but gets an inside edge through square leg for a couple of runs.
- Tom Bruce 23 (20)
- Richie Berrington 39 (21)
Romario Shepherd to Tom Bruce, Another yorker, on middle, tailing in a bit, Tom Bruce digs it out towards mid-wicket and scampers across for one more. 15 runs off this over, 29 in the last two!
Romario Shepherd to Richie Berrington, Right in the blockhole, on middle, Richie Berrington jams it out towards long on for one. 100 UP FOR SCOTLAND!
Romario Shepherd to Richie Berrington, FOUR! The new bat seems to be a good one! Short of a length and just around off. Richie Berrington makes a bit of room and cuts it over the backward point region for a boundary.
Change of bat for Richie Berrington.
Romario Shepherd to Tom Bruce, Hard length and around off, Tom Bruce forces it down to long off for a single.
Romario Shepherd to Tom Bruce, SIX! Sheer power! A loopy slower one, but this is a full toss, on middle. Tom Bruce muscles it away. He gets it from the bottom end of his bat but manages to get enough power to sail it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.
Romario Shepherd to Tom Bruce, Short of a length and outside off, Tom Bruce reaches out and slaps it wide of long off for a brace. He looks at the bottom of his bat but it is good to continue.
- Richie Berrington 34 (19)
- Tom Bruce 13 (16)
Akeal Hosein to Richie Berrington, Pushed through quicker, shortish and on off, Richie Berrington steers it away towards point. Hosein has gone for 26 runs in his first couple of overs!
Akeal Hosein to Richie Berrington, Dragged back and around middle, Richie Berrington hangs back and swats it wide of long on for a couple of runs.
Akeal Hosein to Tom Bruce, Floated, full and on leg, Tom Bruce clips it through square leg for a run. Scotland need under 100 runs now.
Akeal Hosein to Richie Berrington, Quicker and shorter, on off, Richie Berrington looks to pull it really hard but gets hurried and loses his shape. He miscues it off the splice of the bat towards mid-wicket for a single.
Akeal Hosein to Richie Berrington, FOUR! Gets it away! Flatter, full and angling down the leg side. Richie Berrington goes down and swipes it off the inner half of the bat. The ball rolls away and beats the dive of Romario Shepherd to his right at short fine for a boundary.
Akeal Hosein to Richie Berrington, SIX! BOOM! Akeal Hosein gets greeted with a big one, yet again. This is short and around middle. Richie Berrington picks up the length early, rocks back and whacks it over the deep square leg fence for half a dozen.
- Tom Bruce 12 (15)
- Richie Berrington 21 (14)
Shamar Joseph to Tom Bruce, FOUR! Tom Bruce did not intend to hit it in that direction but he will take the result he has got off this Free Hit. Yorker on middle and off, Tom Bruce gets it edged off the inside through the left of the fielder at short fine leg for four.
Shamar Joseph to Tom Bruce, NO BALL! Hard length, shaping back into the batter on top of the stumps. Tom Bruce looks to punch this off his front foot but gets cut in half as the ball nips back in. Just when all seemed great, the siren goes around signaling that Shamar Joseph has overstepped. Free Hit up next.
Shamar Joseph to Richie Berrington, Full and on off, Richie Berrington pushes this to Holder at mid off and rotates the strike.
Shamar Joseph to Tom Bruce, On a length around off, Tom Bruce pushes this through covers for one.
Shamar Joseph to Tom Bruce, WIDE! Bumper, a bit too high. Wided.
Shamar Joseph to Tom Bruce, Good length on off, Tom Bruce blocks it back towards mid off.
Shamar Joseph to Tom Bruce, DROPPED! Jason Holder has given a lifeline to Tom Bruce. Short and on off, Tom Bruce looks to play the pull in front of square towards the deep mid-wicket region. Gets hurried by the raw pace from Shamar Joseph. Ends up hitting this towards Jason Holder at mid off. Holder fails to judge the flight of it and ends up not even getting anything on this. A couple taken.
Shamar Joseph to Richie Berrington, Good length on off, Richie Berrington tucks this through mid-wicket for a single.
Has that carried? Gudakesh Motie is not sure, and the umpires have sent it upstairs. The replay shows that the ball has clearly bounced before going into the hands of the bowler.
- Tom Bruce 5 (10)
- Richie Berrington 19 (12)
Gudakesh Motie to Tom Bruce, Nearly a return catch! It's pushed through on off, Tom Bruce looks to work this around the onside but gets it away with a leading edge that almost carries back to the bowler. Gudakesh Motie dives in front and a bit to his left and grabs this but isn't sure if this is clean or not. The on field umpire sends this upstairs and the replay shows that it was grabbed on the half-volley. Tom Bruce survives a scare.
Gudakesh Motie to Tom Bruce, Full and on off, Tom Bruce blocks this out.
Gudakesh Motie to Richie Berrington, Full and on off, Richie Berrington drives this to sweeper cover for one.
Gudakesh Motie to Richie Berrington, FOUR! Richie Berrington gets fortunate but he wouldn't mind one bit. Slider around off, Richie Berrington swings at it, gets it edged off the outside and the ball races through the left of the fielder at short third for four runs.
Gudakesh Motie to Richie Berrington, Fired down the leg, Richie Berrington looks for the slog sweep but misses.
Gudakesh Motie to Tom Bruce, Drifted around off, Tom Bruce punches this down to long off for a strike rotation.
SCOTLAND 55/3 in 8 overs
- Richie Berrington 14 (9)
- Tom Bruce 4 (7)
Akeal Hosein to Richie Berrington, Fired around off, Richie Berrington looks to hit this over cover but gets it sliced off the outside edge over the fielder at point for a couple.
Akeal Hosein to Tom Bruce, Full and on middle and off, Tom Bruce backs away and punches this to sweeper cover for one.
Akeal Hosein to Richie Berrington, Pushed through on middle and leg, Richie Berrington gets it away from the inside of his bat to long on for a run.
Akeal Hosein to Tom Bruce, Floated on off, Tom Bruce rocks back and tucks this through mid-wicket for one.
Akeal Hosein to Richie Berrington, Quicker one, onto the pads, Richie Berrington gets it tucked to short fine leg for a single. That brings up the 50 for Scotland!
Akeal Hosein to Richie Berrington, SIX! HIGH AND HANDSOME! Full and into the batter, Richie Berrington moves away from the stumps and creates a bit of room for himself. Ends up smashing this inside out for a biggie over the long off fence.
Spin from both ends? Yes, Akeal Hosein has been introduced into the attack now.
- Tom Bruce 2 (5)
- Richie Berrington 4 (5)
Gudakesh Motie to Tom Bruce, Floated into the batter, on leg. Tom Bruce looks to work this around the onside but misses and gets it edged onto the pads.
Gudakesh Motie to Richie Berrington, Full and on the pads, Richie Berrington sweeps this to fine leg for a run.
Gudakesh Motie to Tom Bruce, Another single to Scotland as Tom Bruce punches a short one around off to sweeper cover.
Former New Zealand batter Tom Bruce strengthens the middle order, Afghanistan-born 19-year-old seamer Zainullah Ihsan brings raw pace, while Watt’s variations and Brandon McMullen’s explosive hitting — including a 95 off 39 in a warm-up — highlight their potential to spring surprises.
West Indies, two-time champions who last lifted the trophy at this very venue in 2016, will nonetheless pose a serious threat despite mixed recent form.
Sherfane Rutherford (334 runs) and Shai Hope (276 runs) impressed in the recently concluded SA20 for Pretoria Capitals, while Shamar Joseph and Akeal Hosein provide plenty of firepower with the ball.
Match Statistics
Venue
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
