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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.
We are all set for Scotland's reply. Michael Jones has walked out in the middle with George Munsey to open for Scotland. Matthew Forde is set to bowl the first over of this chase.
... The Run Chase ...
Hetmyer's swashbuckling knock - Hetmyer was at his brutal best, racing to a 22-ball fifty and setting a new record as the fastest West Indian to reach the mark in a T20 World Cup. Powell eventually fell when Currie snapped the partnership, but by then the rescue job was done and the stage was set perfectly for a big finish. Sherfane Rutherford came out swinging and through his cameo of 26 runs, he ensured that the scoring never dipped. Scotland couldn't string wickets regularly in that middle phase and their bowlers were taken apart. Brad Currie was the only one with an economy of under 6. It would require a strong start for Scotland to scale down this target against a West Indian bowling attack that has quality aplenty. Should be an interesting chase ahead. Stay tuned.
A solid resurrection in the middle overs - Shimron Hetmyer may have touched down in India late, but he made sure no one missed his arrival. Walking in with West Indies wobbling, he joined forces with Rovman Powell and completely changed the tone of the innings. Their counterpunching stand of 81 dragged the Men in Maroon out of trouble and turned the middle overs into a scoring spree, with 105 runs hammered between overs 7 and 15.
A cagey start, no freebies early - Scotland showed a lot of discipline with the new ball and didn't allow any sort of freedom for the West Indian openers to tee off from the outset. Hope and King played a few ambitious strokes, but were rather watchful in the Powerplay. Scots didn't get any wickets during the field restrictions as West Indies crawled to 33/0 in the first six. In an attempt to accelerate, both the openers were dismissed in quick time, which pushed West Indies for another rebuild with 66/2 on the board at halfway.
A strong finish in the end - West Indies were barely ticking at a run a ball through the first half, but the backend told a very different story as they blasted 116 runs in the last ten overs. Scotland did claw back a bit of control at the death, conceding just 15 runs across the last two, but the damage had already been done. From a sluggish start to a commanding finish, West Indies still ended up with a hefty total on the board and would be the happier of the two sides walking back in the dugout.
McMullen pulled off a stunning catch at wide long-on to dismiss Hetmyer on last ball of the 19th over. Sharif bowled a high full toss that was swung toward the leg side. McMullen moved across to his left, covered ground, and completed the catch with his fingertips just above the surface.
Hetmyer waited as the on-field officials checked the delivery for height. Replays showed the ball dipped sufficiently and was ruled legal.
West Indies cound add only 7 runs in the last over of their innings
WEST INDIES 182/5 in 20 overs.
- Romario Shepherd 6 (3)
- Matthew Forde 1 (2)
Brad Currie to Romario Shepherd, A dot to end the innings! Superb final over from Brad Currie. Brad goes into the surface, outside off. Romario Shepherd does not pick the slower one and swings way too early. The ball sneaks under his blade and Matthew Cross manages to get his body behind the ball. Just 7 runs off the last over. 15 off the last 2. West Indies finish with 182 on the board!
Brad Currie to Romario Shepherd, SIX! One hand comes off the handle, but it does not matter. Romario Shepherd's power takes it over the ropes. Cross-seam delivery, Currie goes searching for the yorker. It comes out as a low full toss, on off. Romario swings through the line. The ball catches the toe end of the blade but it clears the straight boundary. The long on and long off fielders got around but only watched it sailed over the fence.
Brad Currie to Romario Shepherd, Nicely bowled! Currie keeps it away from the batter's hitting arc, on a good length, flirting with the tramline. Romario Shepherd clears the front leg and gives it a heave but the ball goes over his blade. Matthew Cross, standing up to the stumps, manages to make the stop.
Brad Currie to Matthew Forde, Low full toss, on middle, Matthew swings hard again but only gets the height. It is mistimed and the ball drops in the vacant mid on region. They cross.
Brad Currie to Matthew Forde, A big swing and a miss! Sticks to the off-pace delivery, does Currie, on a good length, angling away. Matthew Forde swings for the hills but is early into the shot and fails to connect. 2 wickets and just 8 runs in the last 8 balls.
Another one bites the dust. Matthew Forde is the new batter in. Five balls to go...
Brad Currie to Sherfane Rutherford, OUT! CAUGHT! Back-to-back wickets for Scotland. Currie does not offer any pace, on a back of a length, outside off, Rutherford stays on the back foot and has a big swing at it. Neither does he get the elevation, nor is it wide enough of the fielder in the deep. Hits it flat and straight down the throat of deep cover, where Michael Jones makes no mistake. A handy 26 off 13 for Rutherford. West Indies are now 175/5.
Final over coming up. Brad Currie (3-0-16-1) to wrap up. Romario Shepherd walks in at number 6.
Is that a clean catch by McMullen? Oh, hang on, the on-umpires look satisfied with the catch, but they are actually checking for the legality of the delivery. The side-on replay comes up and the third umpire confirms that the ball is dipping below the waist height of the batter.
- Shimron Hetmyer 64 (36)
- Sherfane Rutherford 26 (12)
Safyaan Sharif to Shimron Hetmyer, OUT! TAKEN! Brilliant grab by Brandon McMullen. Sharif goes searching for the yorker but ends up serving a high full toss, outside off. Hetmyer shuffles across to get closer to the line of the ball. He smears it aerially towards wide long on, where McMullen moves to his left and slides to take the catch. Brandon reaches out with his hands. The ball threatens to pop out of his left hand, but he just about manages to cling on. End of an impactful knock from Hetmyer, 64 runs off 36 balls.
Safyaan Sharif to Sherfane Rutherford, Lowish full toss, on off. Sherfane Rutherford swings to go down the ground. Gets it right off the toe end of the blade and it dribbles to long off for just a single.
Safyaan Sharif to Sherfane Rutherford, FOUR! Skilful shot! Sharif nails the yorker, right in the blochkole, around off. Rutherford hurriedly gets his bat down and slices it with an open bat face wide of deep backward point for a four.
Safyaan Sharif to Shimron Hetmyer, Off-cutter, running across, on a length, Shimron reaches out and thumps it over cover. It is mopped up by the fielder in the deep. Just a single.
Safyaan Sharif to Shimron Hetmyer, Full and straight, on middle. Shimron swings early and toe-ends it back to the bowler.
Safyaan Sharif to Shimron Hetmyer, Sharif tries to push it across the left-hander. It comes out as a low full toss, outside off. Hetmyer walks across the stumps and drags it to the right of deep mid-wicket. The fielder in the deep slides to his right and cuts it off. Two runs taken.
Safyaan Sharif will bowl the 19th. 3-0-38-0 so far. Can West Indies go past 190? Well, if these two keep batting till the end, even 200 is a possibility.
- Shimron Hetmyer 61 (32)
- Sherfane Rutherford 21 (10)
Mark Watt to Shimron Hetmyer, Shorter and going across, Hetmyer flashes hard but chops it down in front of cover for one.
Mark Watt to Sherfane Rutherford, Floated up, on leg, flicked through mid-wicket for one.
Mark Watt to Sherfane Rutherford, SIX! Wow! What a hit. Watt switches to over the wicket and tries to get the yorker in. He misses his mark by a small margin and that is enough for Rutherford to get under the ball. Sherfane slams it over wide long off for a biggie.
Mark Watt to Sherfane Rutherford, Half a shout for LBW but turned down! No real excitement from any of the Scottish players but they want to take a chance with the review. Slower and fuller, on middle, Rutherford gets down on a knee for the slog sweep but the ball goes past the inside edge and hits him on the back thigh. The UltraEdge shows a spike, confirming the inside edge. Scotland lose their review.
Mark Watt to Sherfane Rutherford, FOUR! Nicely done! Short and pushed across off, Rutherford extends his hands, waits for the ball to arrive and cuts it behind point for a boundary.
Mark Watt to Shimron Hetmyer, Searing yorker, at the toes. Hettie digs it out to long on for a single.
- Sherfane Rutherford 10 (6)
- Shimron Hetmyer 59 (30)
Michael Leask to Sherfane Rutherford, FOUR! Beautiful! Sliding on with the arm from around the wicket, full and on middle. Sherfane makes a bit of room, opens up the front hip and goes inside out over cover for four more. 14 runs off the over!
Michael Leask to Sherfane Rutherford, FOUR! Gets it through! Short and on off, Sherfane waits on the back foot and cuts it late to thread the gap between short third and backward point for a boundary. 150 comes up for West Indies.
Michael Leask to Shimron Hetmyer, Pushed through, shorter and on off, Hetmyer glides it wide of point for a single.
Michael Leask to Shimron Hetmyer, FOUR! Hit hard and wide enough! Fractionally short, slower through the air, on off. Hetmyer picks up the length quickly and hammers the pull to the left of the man at long on. It bounces just in front of the boundary cushions before going over.
Michael Leask to Sherfane Rutherford, Low full toss, sliding on middle, Sherfane Rutherford knocks it to long off for one.
Michael Leask to Sherfane Rutherford, Drops it a bit short, on middle. Sherfane stabs it down on the leg side.
- Shimron Hetmyer 54 (28)
- Sherfane Rutherford 1 (2)
Brad Currie to Shimron Hetmyer, Excellent over from Brad Currie! A wicket and just 2 runs off it. On a short of a length, on off. Hetmyer punches it to cover from the crease.
Brad Currie to Sherfane Rutherford, Angled in at the sticks, on a length, Sherfane turns it through square leg and gets off the mark with a single.
Brad Currie to Sherfane Rutherford, On a length, outside off, Rutherford extends his hands to push it away on the off side. Gets an inside edge onto the boot and the ball rolls down the strip.
A big breakthrough for Scotland. Sherfane Rutherford walks in at number 5.
Brad Currie to Rovman Powell, OUT! CAUGHT! Currie returns and breaks this 81-run partnership. Short of a length on the leg stump. Powell swivels to pull, but since the line is too close to the body, he gets no power on the shot. Airs it to Michael Jones at deep backward square leg. Jones shuffles quickly to his right and judges it well, completing a sharp catch near the boundary. Rovman Powell departs on an anchoring 24 (14) and West Indies are 139/3.
Brad Currie to Rovman Powell, In front of the sticks, on middle, Powell blocks it in front.
Brad Currie to Shimron Hetmyer, Full and on leg, whipped to deep backward square leg for a single.
- Rovman Powell 24 (12)
- Shimron Hetmyer 53 (26)
Michael Leask to Rovman Powell, SIX! It was turning out to be a fine over from Leask, but this biggie spoils it. Full toss on leg stump. Powell clears his front leg and swings hard, dragging it over deep square leg. Not the cleanest connection, but sheer muscle does the job as it sails comfortably over the ropes.
Michael Leask to Rovman Powell, A touch short, on middle, Powell rocks back and heaves it off the inner half to deep square leg, but for some reason, he does not take the single. Interesting.
Michael Leask to Rovman Powell, WIDE! Too short, and way down leg. Powell leaves. The keeper dives to his left and collects it sharply.
Michael Leask to Rovman Powell, Darts in a full ball, on leg, Powell clips it to deep square leg for a couple of quick runs.
Michael Leask to Shimron Hetmyer, Fired in fuller and on the pads, Shimron Hetmyer tries to sweep, but the ball deflects off the pads to short fine leg. They collect a tight leg bye.
Michael Leask to Rovman Powell, Short, on leg, Rovman mistimes the pull shot aerially, but it goes on the bounce to deep backward square leg for a run.
Michael Leask to Shimron Hetmyer, Flat and fractionally short, on middle, Hetmyer hangs deep in the crease and tucks it wide of mid-wicket for a single.
DRINKS BREAK! Shimron Hetmyer arrived late in India, but he has well and truly announced his arrival at the World Cup. Scotland had the scoring in check halfway through the innings, but Hetmyer has since led the counterpunch for the West Indies. 60 runs have come in the last 4 overs, and Richie Berrington will welcome this break in play, as it gives him the chance to gather his troops and have a quick word with the group. Michael Leask (2-0-17-1) to bowl after the break.
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
