The West Indies began their T-20 World Cup campaign on a winning note, defeating Scotland by 36 runs in the second match of the tournament on Sunday.
Batting first, the West Indies posted a competitive total of 183 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs.
Shimron Hetmyer anchored the innings with a brilliant knock of 64 runs, displaying a fine mix of aggression and control. He was well supported by Brandon King, who contributed 35 runs, and Sherfane Rutherford, who added a quick 26 to push the score beyond 180.
In reply, Scotland struggled to keep pace with the required run rate and were bowled out for 147 in 19 overs. Richie Berrington fought hard with a top score of 42, while Tom Bruce chipped in with 35 runs, but the Scottish batting lineup failed to build sustained partnerships.
The highlight of the match was a sensational bowling performance by Romario Shepherd. The West Indies all-rounder produced a devastating spell in the 17th over, claiming the first hat-trick of the tournament. Shepherd finished with outstanding figures of five wickets, effectively ending Scotland’s hopes of a comeback.
With this comprehensive victory, the West Indies earned valuable points and set a strong tone for their T20 World Cup campaign, while Scotland will look to regroup ahead of their next fixture.
After winning the toss, Scotland elected to field first, a decision that saw West Indies batters put up a strong performance on a good batting surface.
The Caribbean side was led by Shimron Hetmyer, who played a fluent 64 to anchor the innings.
West Indies maintained a steady scoring rate throughout their 20 overs, combining aggressive stroke play with smart rotation of the strike to build pressure on the Scottish bowlers.
For Scotland, Brad Curry was the most successful bowler, claiming two wickets. Sufyan Sharif, Oliver Davidson, and Michael Leask chipped in with one wicket each, helping restrict West Indies from crossing the 190-run mark.
Scotland now faces the challenge of chasing 183 runs to secure victory in the tournament opener.
Shimron Hetmyer provided the spark West Indies needed, shifting the momentum firmly in their favour with an aggressive counterattack.
The left-hander brought up his half-century in just 22 deliveries, and with Rovman Powell offering solid support, West Indies raced to 126 for 2 by the end of the 14th over.
Powell chipped in with a brisk 24 off 14 balls before being dismissed by Brad Currie. Sherfane Rutherford then kept the pressure on the Scottish bowlers, hammering 26 from only 13 deliveries, but Currie returned to claim his second wicket.
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