Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens was bathed in West Indies colors this Saturday as the Caribbean side began their campaign in Group C. scotland In t20 world cup 2026. In a match defined by historic milestones and explosive hitting, Shimron Hetmyer Made headlines by registering his name in the record books by surpassing a great feat set by the Universe Boss, chris gayle.
Scotland won the toss and elected to field, hoping to make use of the evening dew, which warmed the atmosphere. However, what followed was a masterclass in modern T20 batting from the West Indies, who posted a strong score of 182/5 in their 20 overs and firmly established their dominance on the global stage.
Shimron Hetmyer overtakes Chris Gayle to enter top list for West Indies in T20 World Cup 2026
The decisive moment of the innings came in the 14th over. Known for his temperament and fearless approach, Hetmyer faced oliver davidson With the intent of a man on a mission. On the third ball of the over, Davidson tried to hide the ball on the tramlines outside the off. Hetmyer displayed incredible balance and reach to launch a brilliant inside-out drive over cover.
As soon as the ball hit a six, the scoreboard confirmed a piece of history: Hetmyer had reached 50 off just 22 balls.
By doing so, he officially broke the record for the fastest 50 by a West Indian in the T20 World Cup. The previous record was in the name of Gayle, who scored a half-century in 23 balls against Australia in June 2009. By defeating a legend like Gayle in such a prestigious tournament, Hetmyer has been placed in an elite class of Caribbean power-hitters. His last innings of 64 runs off 36 balls with the help of 5 big sixes provided the backbone of the West Indies attack.
Also read: Faheem Ashraf’s explosive cameo helps Pakistan survive Netherlands scare in T20 World Cup 2026
West Indies dominate with massive scores
West Indies’ innings was a story of two halves. The powerplay was unnaturally stable Brandon King (35) and captain Shai Hope (19) 54 runs added for the first wicket in 8.2 overs. The score at half time was 62/2, making the match very balanced.
The dynamic changed rapidly after the drinks break. got along with Hetmyer Rovman Powell (14 of 24) To dismantle the Scottish bowling attack. The duo added 50 runs in just 19 balls, a stormy partnership that left the Scots struggling to respond.
Despite a flurry of late wickets – including a double-strike Safyaan Sharif And brad curry In the final overs but the damage was already done. Sherfane Rutherford’s fast 26 and final touch Romario Shepherd This ensured that the Windies reached the total with a current win probability of 56.5%. As the players headed towards the innings break, the talk of Kolkata was not just about the score but also about the crowning of Hetmyer as the new king of Caribbean speed-hitting.
See also: Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi took brilliant catches in the PAK vs NED match in T20 World Cup 2026.
