Eden Gardens lit up on Day 1 of the 2026 T20 World Cup as West Indies flexed their batting muscle against Scotland, reaching 182 for 5 after being put in to bat. Captain Shai Hope’s decision to bowl first backfired spectacularly, thanks to Shimron Hetmyer’s sensational innings.
The powerplay was cautious, with King and Hope adding 54 runs before Hope’s dismissal triggered a collapse to 58 for 2. King followed soon after for 35.
Enter Hetmyer. His 37-ball alliance with Powell yielded 81 runs, injecting momentum. Powell’s quick 24 set the tone, but Hetmyer took over, racing to a 22-ball fifty – shattering West Indies’ T20 WC records.
With Rutherford, he added another brisk 36, falling just short of victory at 64 off 36 (6×6, 2×4). The lower order chipped in: Rutherford 26 off 13, Shepherd 6*, Forde 1*.
Bowling figures: Currie 2/23, Sharif 1, Davidson 1, Leask 1. Scotland’s inclusion came via ICC’s last-minute reshuffle post-Bangladesh boycott, making this a high-stakes opener.
Can Scotland chase 183 on a lively pitch? West Indies’ middle-order storm has put them in command, but T20 twists are never far away.