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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.
- Shimron Hetmyer 52 (24)
- Rovman Powell 15 (8)
Oliver Davidson to Shimron Hetmyer, Beaten! Pushed flatter and fuller, outside off, Shimron Hetmyer tries to crunch the drive through cover, but the ball spins almost square into the batter and beats Shimron's inside edge. It passes close to the off pole and deflects off the keeper's glove before rolling away to the leg side. The batters collect a bye.
Oliver Davidson to Rovman Powell, Much fuller, around off, smashed off the front foot to short cover. The fielder gets a hand to it and parries it to mid off for a single.
Oliver Davidson to Shimron Hetmyer, On a length, on the pads, Hetmyer gets across and paddles it wide of short fine leg for a single.
Oliver Davidson to Shimron Hetmyer, SIX! FIFTY FOR SHIMRON HETMYER! He gets there in 22 balls, and this is the fastest fifty by a West Indian in a T20 World Cup. He is looking unstoppable now. That is a sensational stroke. Pitched full and outside off, Shimron Hetmyer takes a big stride ahead, gets his bat under it and lofts it inside out over the deep cover fence for a big six. This is also the first half century of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, 2026.
Oliver Davidson to Rovman Powell, Short and around off, spinning and gripping. Rovman Powell quickly pivots on the back foot and cuts it to deep point for one more.
Oliver Davidson to Shimron Hetmyer, Quicker and flatter, on middle, Hetmyer shovels this full ball to deep mid-wicket for a single.
- Rovman Powell 13 (6)
- Shimron Hetmyer 44 (20)
Safyaan Sharif to Rovman Powell, FOUR! Finds the gap to perfection! The third consecutive over that goes for double figures. A bit too full and outside off, Rovman Powell throws his bat at it and smashes it into the cover gap for a boundary. The long off fielder stands no chance as the ball races through those practice pitches in the outfield.
Safyaan Sharif to Rovman Powell, Wide yorker, outside off, Rovman Powell digs it out to short cover.
Safyaan Sharif to Rovman Powell, WIDE! A bit too straight down leg, Powell misses the flick.
Safyaan Sharif to Shimron Hetmyer, Full and outside off, a slower ball. This is driven down to long off for a single.
Safyaan Sharif to Shimron Hetmyer, FOUR! Leask should have done better. An off cutter, full and outside off, Shimron Hetmyer laces it along the ground to the deep cover region. Leask runs across to his left, puts in a dive and tries to palm it back in, but does not do so cleanly and parries the ball onto the ropes behind. The 50-run partnership comes up between Hetmyer and Rovman.
Safyaan Sharif to Shimron Hetmyer, SIX! MUSCLED! Short by Safyaan, on middle, angled on the bodyline, Shimron Hetmyer has all the time in the world to swivel and pull it off the back foot over deep backward square leg for his fifth biggie. 100 UP FOR WEST INDIES!
Safyaan Sharif to Shimron Hetmyer, WIDE! Reload! Miles outside the tramline, on off, Hetmyer leaves.
WEST INDIES 98/2 in 12 overs
Safyaan Sharif (2-0-21-0) comes back on.
Safyaan Sharif to Shimron Hetmyer, Slips in a full toss that dips, outside off, Hetmyer mistimes his shot to short cover. Looks very gutted to not have punished that.
- Shimron Hetmyer 33 (16)
- Rovman Powell 9 (4)
Mark Watt to Shimron Hetmyer, Drifted outside off, short, Shimron Hetmyer plays off the back foot and cuts it to deep backward point for a single. Two back-to-back big overs for the Windies. 32 runs in the last 12 balls.
Mark Watt to Shimron Hetmyer, SIX MORE! Two in two for Hettie! Another one pushed around the pads, on a fuller length, Shimron Hetmyer picks it up nicely and whips it over long leg for another half a dozen runs. The runs have started to flow for West Indies now.
Mark Watt to Shimron Hetmyer, SIX! That's massive! A juicy half volley, pushed on middle, Shimron Hetmyer, with no intentions to keep it down, sails it massively behind deep mid-wicket for a cracking six.
Mark Watt to Shimron Hetmyer, STRAIGHT UP... BUT SAFE! Watt lands it around off, on a fullish length. Shimron Hetmyer goes for a slog sweep, but slices it off the top edge. The ball spoons over mid-wicket and lands safely between the two converging fielders for a couple of runs.
Mark Watt to Rovman Powell, In-dipping length ball, on middle, Rovman Powell rocks back, makes room for himself and shanks it through mid off for a run.
Mark Watt to Shimron Hetmyer, Full and flat, onto the pads, Hetmyer paddles it to short fine leg, where a slight fumble by the fielder allows a single.
Mark Watt returns. 2-0-8-0 so far for Watt.
- Rovman Powell 8 (3)
- Shimron Hetmyer 17 (11)
Michael Leask to Rovman Powell, SIX! BLUDGEONED! Leask serves it full again, and the line is around the off stump. Rovman Powell jumps out of the crease and whips it aerially using his bottom hand. Clears the deep mid-wicket fence for a six. 15 runs from the over.
Michael Leask to Shimron Hetmyer, Keeps the stumps in play, on a length, skidding through, Shimron Hetmyer creates room and works it to deep point for a single.
Michael Leask to Shimron Hetmyer, SIX! They need much more of these! Drops it full and drifting on leg, Shimron Hetmyer clears the front leg out of the way and smokes it powerfully over the deep mid-wicket fence for half a dozen.
Michael Leask to Shimron Hetmyer, Tight line! Onto the stumps, drifting in and around middle, on a length, Hetmyer blocks it watchfully.
Michael Leask to Rovman Powell, Drag-downer, outside leg, Rovman nudges it past square leg for a run.
Michael Leask to Shimron Hetmyer, Pushed through, full and on leg, Shimron whips that through mid-wicket for a single.
Halfway reached. West Indies are 66/2, searching for the momentum in this rebuilding phase.
- Shimron Hetmyer 9 (7)
- Rovman Powell 1 (1)
Oliver Davidson to Shimron Hetmyer, And again! Davidson bowls this fuller and flatter, closer to the off stump. Hetmyer has a hack across the line. The ball catches an inside edge and sneaks past the leg stump. The batters cross over as the ball goes wide of short fine leg.
Oliver Davidson to Shimron Hetmyer, Nearly dragged it back onto the stumps! Slower and shorter, on off, Hetmyer swings across and goes hard on the pull. The ball stops on him and Shimron drags an inside edge onto the pads.
Oliver Davidson to Shimron Hetmyer, SIX! Clean strike! Davidson pushes through a full ball, outside off. Hetmyer is allowed to free his arms and he pumps it over long off for a six.
Oliver Davidson to Rovman Powell, Full and at the toes, Powell flicks it to mid-wicket for a single to get off the mark.
Both West Indies openers are back in the pavilion. This has been excellent so far from the Scots. Rovman Powell walks in at number 4. Quite a tight field around the batter. A silly point in place, with a slip as well.
Oliver Davidson to Brandon King, OUT! CAUGHT! Absolute delight for Oliver Davidson. Maiden T20I wicket for him. Not the best of balls though by the debutant. Short and wide on off, there to be put away, King latches onto it but hits it flat and straight to George Munsey at backward point. Munsey leaps and tries to take the catch over his head. The ball hits him hard on the palm and pops up in front, and George Munsey takes it on the rebound. King departs for 35 (30). West Indies are 58/2.
Just 7 runs from the last 2 overs for West Indies. Davidson to continue. 1-0-4-0 so far.
Oliver Davidson to Shimron Hetmyer, Short and on off, Hetmyer nudges it through mid-wicket and crosses over.
- Shimron Hetmyer 1 (3)
- Brandon King 35 (29)
Michael Leask to Shimron Hetmyer, Leg bye! Shorter and on leg, Hetmyer swings across but fails to connect. The batters cross for a leg bye as the ball dribbles to short fine leg. End of a successful over for Leask and Scotland.
Michael Leask to Brandon King, Full and on middle, whipped to long on for one.
Michael Leask to Shimron Hetmyer, Just out of reach! This is bowled into the wicket by Leask, short and on off. Hetmyer presses back for the pull, but the ball holds up in the surface. Shimron is through his shot early, and the ball is skied off a top edge back over the bowler's head. Michael turns around and goes after it. He stretches his hands out in front, but the ball evades him. Single taken.
Michael Leask to Shimron Hetmyer, Full and attacking the stumps, Hetmyer firms the drive back to Leask.
Scotland finally get the reward for their discipline with the ball. Shimron Hetmyer makes his way out to the middle at number 3.
Michael Leask to Shai Hope, OUT! CASTLED! Immediate impact from Michael Leask. Stays around the wicket and bowls the seam-up delivery. This curves away in the air, on a nagging length, on middle. Hope stays back to flick it away but the ball sneaks past the inside edge. It clips the front pad before deflecting onto the off stump. End of a scratchy stay for the Windies' skipper. 19 (22) for Hope.
Michael Leask to Shai Hope, Leask begins from around the wicket, fractionally short, around leg. Hope clears the front leg and has a hack across the line but is beaten on the inside edge and wears it on the pads.
Scotland going all spin now. Michael Leask replaces Safyaan Sharif.
- Brandon King 34 (28)
- Shai Hope 19 (20)
Oliver Davidson to Brandon King, Just 4 runs off the over! Full and honing in on the off stump, King plays a punchy drive to cover. A tidy start for the debutant.
Oliver Davidson to Shai Hope, Flat and full, outside off, Shai reaches out and pats it to deep cover for another single.
Oliver Davidson to Brandon King, Davidson errs but gets away with it! He goes wide on the crease and bowls it short and wide on off, slapped to deep point for just a single.
Oliver Davidson to Shai Hope, Spears it in at the sticks, Shai makes a bit of room and works this full ball to deep cover. They cross.
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
