Seam-bowling all-rounder Romario Shepherd shone with a remarkable spell of 5-20, including a hat-trick, guiding two-time champions West Indies to a 35-run triumph over Scotland in the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup Group C match at the Eden Gardens. Shimron Hetmyer’s impressive 64-run knock laid the foundation for West Indies’ total of 182/5, with Shepherd’s late heroics securing the win by dismantling Scotland’s batting lineup.
Hetmyer’s aggressive innings, featuring two fours and six sixes at a strike rate of 177.78, was well-supported by Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford, propelling West Indies to a competitive score. Shepherd’s hat-trick, the first in the ongoing tournament and the tenth in T20 World Cup history, disrupted Scotland’s chase after they were well-placed at 115/3 in 13.1 overs, with Richie Berrington and Tom Bruce looking threatening.
In a numbers game between West Indies and Scotland, Hetmyer’s 64 became the highest individual score by a West Indies batsman against Scotland, surpassing the previous record held by Jason Holder. Additionally, Hetmyer marked his eighth fifty in his 76th match, with this being his first against Scotland. Shepherd’s 5/20 figures in this match are his best in T20Is, outdoing his previous best against India in 2023. He also became the second Caribbean bowler to claim 5 wickets in a World Cup, following A. Hosein. This victory marked West Indies’ first win against Scotland.
