First Hat-trick in T20 World Cup 2026! RCB boy Romario Shepherd etches history at Eden Gardens

Romario Shepherd bags hat trick vs Scotland [Source: AFP Photo]

West Indian all-rounder Romario Shepherd created history on Saturday against Scotland as he snatched the game from the jaws of defeat by picking up a hat-trick to stun the Scottish side in their T20 World Cup tournament opener. The tall pacer turned the tides in the 17th over as he picked three wickets in three balls to swing the match.

With this feat, he became the first West Indian bowler to grab a hat-trick in the T20 World Cups. He took wickets on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th ball of the 17th over as Scotland had no answer to his brilliance. Interestingly, there have been four instances where a West Indian has scalped a hat-trick, and Shepherd has two of them.

West Indian bowlers to take T20I hat trick

• Jason Holder vs England, Bridgetown, 2022
• Romario Shepherd vs Bangladesh, Chattogram, 2026
• Shamar Springer vs Afghanistan, Dubai, 2026
• Romario Shepherd vs Scotland, Kolkata, 2026 (TODAY)*

Up until 2022, no West Indian had plucked a hat-trick, but in the last four years, four such feat has been achieved. Ironically, three such events have occurred in 2026, and Shepherd has bagged the moment twice this year.

Shepherd’s brilliance seals the win for West Indies

Up until the 17th over, Scotland would have fancied their chances of pulling off an upset over the Windies, but Shepherd ensured that no such thing took place. He started the 17th over with the wicket of Matt Cross, and in the following delivery, he took the wicket of Michael Leask.

The moment of the day came when Shepherd bagged the wicket of Oliver Davidson as he created history by becoming the first player from his nation to scalp a hat-trick.

Shepherd enters history books with 5-wicket haul

Not only a brilliant hat trick, but the right-arm pacer also bagged a magnificent five-wicket haul to win the game for the Windies by 35 runs. At one stage, the Scottish side were in the race but then he turned the tides for his team.

This was the fourth-best T20I spell by a West Indian bowler, as Shepherd enters an elite list.

6/17 - Obed McCoy vs India, Basseterre, 2022 

5/11 - Akeal Hosein vs Uganda, Providence, 2024 

5/15 - Keemo Paul vs Bangladesh, Mirpur, 2018 

5/20 - Romario Shepherd vs Scotland, Kolkata, 2026* 

5/26 - Daren Sammy vs Zimbabwe, Port of Spain, 2010

• Obed McCoy has the best spell in T20Is for the Windies. In 2022 against India, he scalped 6 for 17 to stun the Men in Blue.
• Akeal Hosein, the wily spinner ranks second in the list. In 2024 against Uganda, the spin-bowler grabbed 5 for 11.
• Keemo Paul, another talented West Indian bowler enters the list as his figures of 5/15 ranks third.
• Shepherd, with figures of 5/20 against Scotland occupies the fourth spot, with Daren Sammy grabbing the fifth place.