West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd took four wickets in five balls, including a hat-trick on the opening day of the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup against Scotland.
Romario Shepherd picks up second T20I hat-trick
After racking up 182-5 in their 20 overs, West Indies kept proceedings under control for the first half of Scotland's chase, before a cameo by Richie Berrington (42 off 24) threatened to take the game away from them. But when Berrington perished trying to slog Jason Holder in the 14th over, the writing was on the wall for Scotland.
Shepherd, who had dismissed Brandon McMullen earlier in the fifth over, returned for his third in the 17th, and closed the game with four wickets, including a hat-trick.
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Matthew Cross was the first to go, slicing a wide yorker to backward point. Michael Leask followed, skying an attempted slog that was well-taken by Rovman Powell. For the hat-trick ball, Shepherd fittingly shattered Oliver Davidson's stumps. He wasn't done, though. Two balls later, Shepherd had Safyaan Sharif caught at mid-off to complete four wickets in five balls.
West Indies captain Shai Hope had the opportunity to give him a fourth over but decided to switch to Holder instead, who finished the game off with Mark Watt's wicket.
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Shepherd ended with figures of 5-20 in 3 overs, the best by a West Indian fast bowler in men's T20 World Cup history. His hat-trick was also the first by a West Indies bowler in the tournament. Had Shepherd taken another wicket, he would have become the first quick to take six wickets in a T20 World Cup game.
Among all West Indies bowlers, only Akeal Hosein has registered better figures in a T20 World Cup game - 5-11 vs Uganda in the previous edition. Overall, Shepherd's are the joint-ninth best figures in the history of the tournament.
This was also the second time Shepherd took a T20I hat-trick, his last having come in October 2025 against Bangladesh.
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Match 2, West Indies vs Scotland
vs
- Ball by ball Over
Every five-wicket haul in men's T20 World Cups
| Player | Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wickets | Econ | Opposition | Ground | Year |
| Ajantha Mendis (SL) | 4 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | v Zimbabwe | Hambantota | 2012 |
| Rangana Herath (SL) | 3.3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0.85 | v New Zealand | Chattogram | 2014 |
| Umar Gul (PAK) | 3 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 2 | v New Zealand | The Oval | 2009 |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi (AFG) | 4 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 2.25 | v Uganda | Providence | 2024 |
| Sam Curran (ENG) | 3.4 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 2.72 | v Afghanistan | Perth | 2022 |
| Akeal Hosein (WI) | 4 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 2.75 | v Uganda | Providence | 2024 |
| Ahsan Malik (NED) | 4 | 0 | 19 | 5 | 4.75 | v South Africa | Chattogram | 2014 |
| Adam Zampa (AUS) | 4 | 0 | 19 | 5 | 4.75 | v Bangladesh | Dubai (DICS) | 2021 |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman (AFG) | 4 | 0 | 20 | 5 | 5 | v Scotland | Sharjah | 2021 |
| Romario Shepherd (WI) | 3 | 0 | 20 | 5 | 6.66 | v Scotland | Eden Gardens | 2026 |
| Mustafizur Rahman (BAN) | 4 | 0 | 22 | 5 | 5.5 | v New Zealand | Eden Gardens | 2016 |
| James Faulkner (AUS) | 4 | 0 | 27 | 5 | 6.75 | v Pakistan | Mohali | 2016 |
| Lasith Malinga (SL) | 4 | 0 | 31 | 5 | 7.75 | v England | Pallekele | 2012 |
Every hat-trick in men's T20 World Cups
| Player | Match | Venue | Year | Victims |
| Brett Lee | Australia v Bangladesh | Cape Town | 2007 | Shakib Al Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza, Alok Kapali |
| Curtis Campher | Ireland v Netherlands | Abu Dhabi | 2021 | Colin Ackermann, Ryan ten Doeschate, Scott Edwards, Roelof van der Merwe |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | Sri Lanka v South Africa | Sharjah | 2021 | Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma, Dwaine Pretorius |
| Kagiso Rabada | South Africa v England | Sharjah | 2021 | Chris Woakes, Eoin Morgan, Chris Jordan |
| Karthik Meiyappan | UAE v Sri Lanka | Geelong | 2022 | Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka |
| Josh Little | Ireland v New Zealand | Adelaide | 2022 | Kane Williamson, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner |
| Pat Cummins | Australia v Bangladesh | North Sound | 2024 | Mahmudullah, Mahedi Hasan, Towhid Hridoy |
| Pat Cummins | Australia v Afghanistan | Kingstown | 2024 | Rashid Khan, Karim Janat, Gulbadin Naib |
| Chris Jordan | England v United States of America | Bridgetown | 2024 | Ali Khan, Nosthush Kenjige, Saurabh Netravalkar |
| Romario Shepherd | West Indies v Scotland | Kolkata | 2026 | Matthew Cross, Michael Leask, Oliver Davidson |
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