T20 World Cup: Shepherd hat-trick, Hetmyer blitz power West Indies past Scotland

Romario Shepherd claimed five wickets after Shimron Hetmyer struck a counter-attacking half-century as two-time champions West Indies began their T20 World Cup campaign with a comfortable 35-run victory over Scotland at Eden Gardens on Saturday.

Back at the venue where they lifted their second T20 World Cup title a decade ago, West Indies were made to work hard early after being invited to bat. Hetmyer's decisive 36-ball 64 turned the innings on its head before Shepherd produced a late, match-turning spell to seal the contest.

West Indies endured a slow start as Scotland's bowlers applied the squeeze in the powerplay, conceding just 33 runs without loss and forcing 17 dot balls. Brandon King struggled for timing during a scratchy 35 off 30 balls, while skipper Shai Hope was dismissed for 19 by Michael Leask's quicker delivery as West Indies reached only 66 for 2 at the halfway stage.

Scotland's spinners, led by Mark Watt, maintained control through the middle overs, keeping boundaries to a minimum and forcing risk-free accumulation. The innings changed course once Hetmyer settled at No. 3. After the 10th over, the left-hander took on the spinners with clean, calculated power-hitting, sweeping with authority and punishing anything short. He brought up his half-century from just 22 balls as West Indies plundered 72 runs between overs 11 and 15.

West Indies vs Scotland T20 World Cup: Highlights

Hetmyer finished with six sixes and two fours in his 64, adding 81 runs in just 37 balls with Rovman Powell, who chipped in with 24 off 14. Sherfane Rutherford then provided a late flourish with a rapid 26 off 13 balls as West Indies surged to a formidable 182 for 5. Brad Currie was the pick of the Scotland bowlers with 2 for 23, while debutant left-arm spinner Oliver Davidson returned figures of 1 for 23.

Scotland's reply began steadily before they lost wickets at regular intervals and were kept in check through the middle overs. A 78-run partnership between skipper Richie Berrington and Michael Bruce revived the chase, with Berrington striking a fluent 42 off 24 balls and Bruce contributing 35 from 28. At 132 for 5, Scotland still required 51 from the final four overs and the contest remained alive.

What followed was a dramatic collapse.

Shepherd ripped through the lower order with four wickets in five balls. Matthew Cross guided a length ball straight to point, Mark Watt miscued a pull to the leg side, and debutant Davidson was bowled by a sharp delivery that jagged back to complete Shepherd's hat-trick - his second in T20Is in four months. He later added Safyaan Sharif to finish with outstanding figures of 5 for 20, his maiden five-wicket haul in the format.

Jason Holder picked up the final wicket as Scotland were bowled out for 147 in 18.5 overs, turning what had been a competitive chase into a one-sided finish. Earlier, Holder had also removed Berrington with a slower ball to become the first West Indian to reach 100 T20I wickets.

For West Indies, who endured a difficult build-up including a shock series loss to Nepal, the win offered redemption after their surprise defeat to Scotland in the previous edition. Scotland, late entrants to the tournament following Bangladesh's withdrawal, showed discipline for long periods but were undone by a late collapse that erased much of their earlier good work.

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