Hetmyer's Late Arrival Sparks West Indies to Dominant T20 World Cup Start
In a dramatic twist mirroring their opponents' own journey, West Indies' Shimron Hetmyer made a fashionably late entry, joining the squad just hours before their T20 World Cup opener against Scotland at Kolkata's iconic Eden Gardens on Saturday. The Guyanese left-hander, delayed by visa issues that forced him to miss the warm-up match against Afghanistan, wasted no time in showcasing his red-hot form.
Shepherd's Historic Hat-Trick Seals the Deal
While Hetmyer dazzled with the bat, Romario Shepherd stole the show with the ball, achieving a remarkable T20 World Cup hat-trick. The pacer's devastating spell saw him claim four wickets in just five deliveries, single-handedly dismantling Scotland's batting lineup. Shepherd's figures of 5/20 in three overs included the crucial dismissals of Matthew Cross, Michael Leask, and Oliver Davidson in consecutive balls during the 17th over, followed immediately by Safyaan Sharif.
This marked Shepherd's second T20I hat-trick, having previously achieved the feat against Bangladesh in October. His bowling masterclass restricted Scotland to 147 all out in 18.5 overs, setting the stage for West Indies' comprehensive victory.
Hetmyer's Blistering Innings Lights Up Eden Gardens
After being put in to bat, West Indies faced early pressure as Scotland struck twice in consecutive overs, removing openers Brandon King and captain Shai Hope. Enter Shimron Hetmyer, who transformed the innings with his aggressive strokeplay. The Rajasthan Royals star announced his arrival by hammering two massive sixes off Mark Watt in the 12th over, accumulating 18 runs and shifting momentum decisively.
Hetmyer continued his assault, reaching his half-century in just 22 balls—the fastest by any West Indian in T20 World Cup history. His innings featured one boundary and six towering sixes, demonstrating pure power-hitting at its finest. He found able support from Rovman Powell, who played a sensible supporting role during their 81-run partnership for the third wicket.
Even after Powell's dismissal for 24, Hetmyer maintained the onslaught alongside Sherfane Rutherford, who contributed a quickfire 26 off 13 balls. Hetmyer's explosive knock finally ended at 64 off 36 deliveries when Brandon McMullen took a spectacular catch at long-on. His innings proved instrumental in pushing West Indies to a competitive total of 182/5.
Comprehensive Team Performance Secures Victory
The West Indies bowling attack complemented their batting fireworks perfectly. Beyond Shepherd's heroics, Jason Holder provided crucial support with 3/30, ensuring Scotland never gained momentum in their chase. The fielding effort was equally impressive, highlighted by Hetmyer's stunning catch to dismiss Scotland opener George Munsey earlier in the match.
Scotland showed resilience through captain Richie Berrington's 42 and Michael Leask's 35, but the target proved too steep against West Indies' disciplined bowling and electric fielding. The 35-run victory gives West Indies a perfect start to their T20 World Cup campaign, sending a strong message to other contenders in the tournament.
This commanding performance underscores West Indies' depth and firepower, with both established stars and emerging talents contributing significantly. As the tournament progresses, their combination of explosive batting and lethal bowling makes them a formidable force in the race for the T20 World Cup title.
