West Indies kicked off their T20 World Cup 2026 run with a solid win over Scotland in Group C. The two-time champs got off to a flying start, thanks to stunning performances from Shimron Hetmyer and Romario Shepherd. Batting first after losing the toss, West Indies posted 182 for 5. Hetmyer smashed 64 off just 36 balls, clearing the ropes six times and hitting a couple of boundaries. Brandon King chipped in with 35, while Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford added some quick runs at the end.
Scotland failed to keep up the tempo while chasing
Scotland’s chase never really got going. They lost Michael Jones early for just 1, and although Munsey and McMullen tried to steady things with a 30-run stand, wickets kept falling. McMullen went for 14, then Munsey fell soon after for 19. At 37 for 3, Scotland looked in trouble, but Richie Berrington and Tom Bruce put up a fight. Their 78-run partnership dragged Scotland back into the game, and for a moment, it looked like they might pull off something special. Berrington hammered 42 off 24, Bruce made 35, but once they both fell in quick succession, the chase fizzled out.
By the 16th over, Scotland needed 51 from the final four overs with five wickets in hand. Shepherd came on for the 17th, and that was pretty much the end of it. He ripped through Scotland’s lower order, taking four wickets in the over—including a hat-trick. Scotland collapsed to 147 all out in 18.5 overs, losing by 35 runs. Shepherd ended with brilliant figures: 5 wickets for just 20 runs in three overs. Jason Holder picked up three, while Shamar Joseph and Gudakesh Motie took one each. For Scotland, Bradley Currie was the pick of the bowlers with 2 for 23, and Sharif, Davidson, and Leask grabbed a wicket apiece. All in all, a dream start for West Indies, with Hetmyer and Shepherd stealing the show.
