Romario Shepherd took a hat-trick as West Indies started their 2026 T20 World Cup campaign with a 35-run win over Scotland.

After Shimron Hetmyer's 64 off 36 balls helped West Indies set a total of 182-5 at Eden Gardens, Shepherd (5-20) recorded his maiden five-wicket haul in the format.

The Windies got off to a slow start with the bat as openers Brandon King (35) and Shai Hope (19) struggled to push the pace, but Hetmyer formed an 81-run partnership with Rovman Powell (24) off 31 deliveries to get them back on track.

Sherfane Rutherford (26 off 13) helped them post a strong target before taking a catch in the deep to remove Scotland opener Michael Jones (one) in the second over of the chase, while Hetmyer took a diving catch to dismiss George Munsey (19).

Richie Berrington (42) offered some threat for Scotland, but he became Jason Holder's (3-30) 100th wicket in T20Is before Shepherd took centre stage.

He dismissed Matthew Cross (11), Michael Leask and Oliver Davidson (both ducks) in three balls, before also removing Safyaan Sharif (duck) to take four wickets in the over, as Scotland were eventually bowled out for 147.

The campaign begins with a W!

A dominant performance in our opener.#T20WorldCup | #MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/Zwsl4IeeAV

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) February 7, 2026

Data Debrief: History for Shepherd, Holder and Hetmyer

At the venue where they lifted the T20 World Cup trophy in 2016, there was plenty to be happy about for West Indies.

Shepherd is the 10th player to take a hat-trick in the competition, and the first for West Indies, while he is also the first player for his nation to take two hat-tricks in the format.

Holder became the first West Indies player to reach 100 T20I wickets, now on 101, and Hetmyer recorded the fastest T20 World Cup 50 for the Windies (22 balls, one faster than Chris Gayle in 2009 against Australia at the Oval).