Pace bowler Romario Shepherd took the first hat-trick of the 2026 T20 World Cup on Saturday to help the West Indies blow away Scotland's tail and win by 35 runs in their Group C opener in Kolkata.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Shepherd grabbed four wickets in five balls in the 17th over to put an end to Scotland's hopes of chasing their target of 183.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Shimron Hetmyer's 36-ball 64 at Eden Gardens earlier propelled the West Indies to 182-5 in their 20 overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Scots, who only received a call-up two weeks ago to replace Bangladesh, were threatening a famous victory at 114-3 at the end of the 13th over, with big-hitting captain Richie Berrington and Tom Bruce at the crease.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
A 78-run fourth-wicket partnership between Berrington, who made 42, and Tom Bruce (35) had put them back in the hunt.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But strikes by Jason Holder and then Shepherd's burst saw Scotland bowled out for 147.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Shepherd removed Matthew Cross, for 11, Michael Leask and Oliver Davidson and celebrated wildly before ending with an impressive 5-20 from his three overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Holder finished with figures of 3-30 in 3.5 overs as he wrapped up the Scotland innings in 18.5 overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Scots won the toss and elected to field and initially had the West Indies on the back foot with some disciplined bowling.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Opener Brandon King made 35 as he cut loose in the seventh over to hit pace bowler Safyaan Sharif for a six and two fours off successive balls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Scotland rotated their bowlers and Leask struck the first blow with his off-spin as he bowled skipper Shai Hope for 19.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
King was out next, falling to debutant left-arm spinner Davidson caught at backward point for his maiden T20 wicket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The left-handed Hetmyer took on the opposition attack, hitting six sixes in all, and put on a stand of 81 off 37 balls with Rovman Powell, who made 24.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hetmyer reached his fifty off 22 balls with a six.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Powell was dismissed, but he kept up the attack with fellow left-hander Sherfane Rutherford, who scored a 13-ball 26.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hetmyer fell to Sharif with Brandon McMullen taking a stunning catch at long-on and Rutherford followed him on the first ball of the next over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Left-arm pace bowler Brad Currie returned figures of 2-23.<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Wi-vs-Scotland-T20-World-Cup-2026.jpeg", "alt_img": "West Indies vs Scotland T20 World Cup 2026", "alt_title": "Shepherd\u2019s Hat-Trick Powers West Indies to 35-Run Win Over Scotland", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "Shepherd\u2019s Hat-Trick Powers West Indies to 35-Run Win Over Scotland On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "Romario Shepherd claimed the first hat-trick of the 2026 T20 World Cup as West Indies defeated Scotland by 35 runs in their Group C opener at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.", "seo_keywords": "West Indies Vs Scotland, T20 World Cup 2026, Romario Shepherd", "tag": null, "tagging": "West Indies Vs Scotland,T20 World Cup 2026,Romario Shepherd,", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "shepherds-hat-trick-powers-west-indies-to-35-run-win-over-scotland", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "1", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "495", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2026-02-07 19:12:22", "updated": "2026-02-07 19:12:22", "img_from": "Image Source: Google", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "West Indies Vs Scotland, T20 World Cup 2026, Romario Shepherd", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "1", "posted_by": "19", "jio_date": "2026-02-07 19:12:22", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "1", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": "Select", "article_content_type": null, "england_cricket": "0", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/shepherds-hat-trick-powers-west-indies-to-35-run-win-over-scotland-187755" }