West Indies wasted no time asserting dominance in T20 World Cup 2026, thrashing Scotland by 35 runs in their Group C opener. A target of 183 proved too steep, thanks to a bowling masterclass capped by Romario Shepherd’s hat-trick heroics.
Electing to bowl first didn’t faze West Indies’ batsmen. Hetmyer’s 64-run fireworks off 36 balls, laced with six maximums, powered them to 182/5. King (35), Powell (24 off 14), and Rutherford (26 off 13) provided solid support, building partnerships that frustrated Scotland’s attack.
The chase unraveled quickly for Scotland. Early blows saw Jones (1), McMullen (14), and Munsey (19) back in the hut by 37/3. Berrington and Bruce’s 78-run rescue act offered hope – Berrington’s 42 key among them – but wickets of Berrington at 115 and Bruce at 122 extinguished it.
At 132/5 after 16 overs, 51 runs looked chaseable. Shepherd’s intervention changed everything. His explosive over yielded four wickets, hat-trick included, sparking celebrations. Scotland limped to 147 in 18.5 overs.
Man-of-the-match Shepherd claimed 5/20. Holder (3 wickets) starred alongside. Scotland’s Currie (2/23) was their standout. This clinical performance underlines West Indies’ pedigree as former champions, setting a strong tone for the tournament.