Shimron Hetmyer’s quick half-century and Romario Shepherd’s 5-wicket haul lead West Indies to victory. See how Darren Sammy’s prediction came true here!
West Indies stunned everyone with a stunning victory in the opening match of the T20 World Cup! The heroes of this victory against Scotland at Eden Gardens were two – Shimron Hetmyer with the bat and Romario Shepherd with the ball. But there is another story behind it – coach Daren Sammy’s prediction. On Friday, he had said, “Hetmyer will make the difference“. In just 24 hours, it became a reality!
Sammy’s prediction and Hetmyer’s response:
West Indies coach and former captain Darren Sammy had told the media the day before the match, “Hetmyer is in great form. Leave him alone.” The left-handed batsman proved his words to be true. Brandon King and Sai Hope laid the foundation for the West Indies innings, but Hetmyer showed a solo performance. He scored 64 runs in just 36 balls, hitting 6 sixes and 2 fours. His strike rate was 177.77! Not only batting, but he also showed his mettle by taking a brilliant catch on the edge of the boundary to dismiss George Munsey.
Shepherd’s historic hat-trick and devastation:
If Hetmyer changed the course of the match, then Romario Shepherd single-handedly ended Scotland’s resistance. Just when Scotland was looking a little hopeful due to Richie Berrington (42) and Tom Bruce (35), Shepherd came on in the 17th over. He took three wickets in three consecutive balls – Matthew Cross, Michael Leask, Oliver Davidson – to take his hat-trick! Another wicket on the last ball of the over. A total of 4 wickets in 5 balls, 5 wickets for 20 runs in 3 overs in the entire match. This is the 10th hat-trick in the history of the T20 World Cup!
Scotland’s resistance and eventual collapse
Chasing the run, Scotland had a good start. But losing wickets regularly put them under pressure. Skipper Richie Berrington (42 off 24 balls) and Tom Bruce (35) showed some hope, but after their dismissals the momentum of the innings was completely lost. But the real havoc began in the 17th over.
Match Summary:
West Indies batted first and scored 182 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in 20 overs. Apart from Hetmyer’s 64, Rovman Powell (24) and Sherfen Rutherford (26) added important runs. In reply, Scotland were all out for 147 runs in 18.3 overs. As a result, West Indies won by 35 runs.
Table: Leading run-scorers and wicket-takers:
| Team | Player | Runs (Balls) | Wickets (Overs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Indies | Shimron Hetmyer | 64 (36) | – |
| West Indies | Rovman Powell | 24 (13) | – |
| West Indies | Sherfane Rutherford | 26 (15) | – |
| West Indies | Romario Shepherd | – | 5 (3) |
| Scotland | Richie Berrington | 42 (24) | – |
| Scotland | Tom Bruce | 35 (26) | – |
| Scotland | Safyaan Sharif | – | 2 (4) |
West Indies (182/5) beat Scotland (147/10 in 18.5 overs) by 35 runs at Eden Gardens in their 2026 ICC Mens T20 World Cup encounter. pic.twitter.com/N8dphwcq5C
— Sri Lanka Tweet 🇱🇰 (@SriLankaTweet) February 7, 2026
This victory is not just two points, but a strong message for the West Indies team. They showed that, be it batting or bowling, they have players who can turn the match around. Hetmyer’s aggressive batting and Shepherd’s deadly swing bowling are a warning to all other teams. Led by Darren Sammy, this team is determined to regain the winning touch of 2012 and 2016. The start at Eden seemed to indicate that. Will this T20 World Cup be another ‘Caribbean Kalapani’ story? Time will tell. But on the first day, the West Indies claimed that they are not just participants in this tournament, but strong competitors. Read more
1 thought on “Destruction in the T20 World Cup: West Indies win thanks to Hetmyer-Shepherd’s skills”