Romario Shepherd’s Five-Wicket Burst Sinks Scotland in T20 World Cup Opener

Kolkata saw the West Indies open their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2025-26 campaign with a decisive 35-run victory over Scotland.

Romario Shepherd delivered a match-winning performance, taking five wickets, including four in a single over, to derail Scotland’s chase at Eden Gardens on February 7, 2026. West Indies posted 182/5, then restricted Scotland to 147 all out.

Hetmyer’s Rapid Half-Century Sets the Tone

Scotland captain Richie Berrington won the toss and elected to field first. He spoke before the match, stating, “It’s a fantastic opportunity for us, it’s been a quick turnaround but everyone’s excited to be here.” ESPN reported Berrington’s comments, acknowledging Scotland’s late entry into the tournament as replacements for Bangladesh.

The pitch at Eden Gardens played slow early on. Scotland’s spinners managed to keep the West Indies scoring rate low during the powerplay, holding them to 33 without loss. But Shimron Hetmyer, batting at number three, soon changed the momentum.

Hetmyer, whose recent form included scores of 75 and 48* against South Africa, played a destructive innings. He blasted 64 runs from just 36 balls. A significant 44 of those runs came from boundaries.

He brought up his fifty in just 22 balls, marking the fastest T20 World Cup half-century by a West Indian batsman. His 81-run third-wicket partnership with Rovman Powell (24) was crucial. Sherfane Rutherford chipped in with 26 runs late on, helping the West Indies set a target of 183.

Scotland’s Chase Falters Amidst Shepherd’s Carnage

Chasing 183, Scotland‘s innings struggled from the outset. They were reduced to 37 for 3 after Hetmyer took a crucial catch. Despite the early setbacks, Richie Berrington (42) and Tom Bruce (35) built a promising 50-run fourth-wicket partnership. They showed some fight, pushing Scotland past the 100-run mark in 11.5 overs.

But then Romario Shepherd stepped up. He tore through the Scottish lineup with a devastating spell. Shepherd finished with figures of 5 wickets for just 20 runs.

This included an incredible four wickets in five balls during the 17th over, effectively crushing any lingering hopes for Scotland. Jason Holder also supported well, taking 3 wickets for 30 runs. Scotland eventually folded for 147 in 18.5 overs, falling short by 35 runs.

Two umpire review decisions also went against Scotland during their innings, including one against Bruce and another for a bowling decision. You can check the full match scorecard on ESPN.

Kolkata Continues West Indies’ Fond Memories

This match carried some history. Scotland had beaten West Indies by 42 runs in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Hobart, so this win felt like a measure of revenge for the Caribbean side.

The venue itself holds special significance for the West Indies; they won the 2016 T20 World Cup title at Eden Gardens, a memory current captain Shai Hope and veteran Johnson Charles likely carry.

For Scotland, it was a quick turnaround to get ready for the tournament. They were invited less than two weeks before it started, replacing Bangladesh.

This opening defeat means Scotland will need to regroup quickly in Group C. Meanwhile, West Indies gain two points and some momentum to start their campaign, a good outcome for a team looking to make a deep run.