Scotland started their T20 World Cup marketing campaign with a 35-run defeat by two-time champions West Indies at Eden Gardens, undone by Shimron Hetmyer’s blistering half‑century and Romario Shepherd’s five-wicket haul.
Having been drafted into the match late following Bangladesh’s boycott, the Scots had their moments however in the end did not match the standard of their opponents, who had been winners in 2012 and 2016.
A fourth-place end ultimately summer season’s Europe Qualifier had seemed to have value Scotland a spot on the 2026 version, however handed a second likelihood, they proved they weren’t misplaced on the massive stage.
Chasing 183, the Scots had been 37-3 within the sixth over when captain Richie Berrington and Tom Bruce got here collectively within the center and briefly ignited hopes of an upset.
The pair added 78 for the fourth wicket, with Berrington main from the entrance with 42 from 24 balls however his departure with the rating at 115-4 stalled their momentum.
West Indies then all however sealed the victory as Shepherd took 4 wickets within the seventeenth over, together with a sensational hat-trick, to complete with 5-20.
Opting to bowl first, Scotland restricted West Indies to 182‑5 – a complete they might have gladly accepted going into the ultimate overs after coming beneath stress from the brutal hitting of Windies duo Hetmyer and Rovman Powell.
Making their sixth look within the match, Scotland held their nerve by way of the powerplay as West Indies crawled to 33-0 earlier than they struck twice in fast succession by way of Michael Leask and debutant Oliver Davidson.
Off-spinner Leask made the breakthrough within the ninth over to dismiss Windies skipper Shai Hope earlier than Davidson, the 21-year-old left-armer, accounted for Brandon King, who had settled in properly with a 30-ball 35, within the following over.
West Indies discovered themselves 66-2 on the midway stage of their innings however some explosive batting from Hetmyer swung the momentum again of their favour with Powell additionally becoming a member of in with 24 from 14 balls.
Hetmyer, in the meantime, raced to his half-century in 22 balls and it wanted a implausible catch from Brandon McMullen at extensive long-on to ship again the batter within the penultimate over after a quickfire 64 from 36 balls.
However by then, the Windies had been properly and really in command, and regardless of some tidy dying bowling from Brad Currie, who completed with figures of two‑23, they posted a complete that proved out of Scotland’s attain.
