Scotland’s chase of 183 runs got off to a shaky start as the West Indies new-ball attack struck early at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Michael Jones was dismissed for 1 in the second over, caught off Jason Holder, as he struggled against bounce and movement. Scotland were immediately under pressure.
George Munsey and Brandon McMullen attempted to rebuild. Munsey used the sweep shot effectively to rotate strike. However, the momentum did not last long.
Romario Shepherd removed McMullen for 11, breaking the stand. At the end of the powerplay, Scotland were 33 for 2, already falling behind the required rate.
The middle overs saw a strong fightback led by captain Richie Berrington. He played with intent and confidence. Berrington struck 42 off 24 balls, including two sixes, keeping Scotland in the contest.
He found solid support from Tom Bruce, who scored 23 off 20 balls. Together, they added a crucial 78-run partnership. At 114 for 3, Scotland briefly looked capable of pushing West Indies under pressure.
The turning point came with the return of the senior West Indies seamers.
In the 17th over, Romario Shepherd delivered a match-defining spell. He claimed a sensational hat-trick, dismissing Matthew Cross (11), Oliver Davidson (0), and Mark Watt (6) on consecutive deliveries.
Shepherd’s pace and yorkers proved unplayable. He finished with outstanding figures of 5 for 20, completely dismantling the lower order and ending Scotland’s hopes.
Scotland offered brief resistance through the tail, but wickets continued to fall. They were eventually bowled out for 147 in 18.5 overs.
Shamar Joseph supported well with 1 for 26, while Gudakesh Motie chipped in with 1 for 29, maintaining pressure throughout.
West Indies sealed a convincing 35-run victory. While the margin appears comfortable, Scotland remained competitive for large portions of the chase before Shepherd’s decisive over swung the match firmly in West Indies’ favour.