West Indies vs Scotland Live Score, T20 World Cup: Scotland Opt To Bowl Against West Indies

The giant flags of the two nations have been rolled out. The match officials lead the way before Shai Hope and Richie Berrington lead their respective sides out for the national anthems. It will be Scotland's national anthem, first followed by the anthem of West Indies.

Scotland (Playing XI) - George Munsey, Michael Jones, Brandon McMullen, Richie Berrington (C), Tom Bruce, Matthew Cross (WK), Mark Watt, Michael Leask, Oliver Davidson (On debut), Safyaan Sharif, Brad Currie.

West Indies (Playing XI) - Brandon King, Shai Hope (C/WK), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Matthew Forde, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie.

The captain of West Indies - Shai Hope cheekily says he can't remember the last time they won the toss. Adds that they would have probably bowled as well. He highlights the fond memories the side has at this venue from a decade ago, while mentioning that he wasn’t part of the setup at the time. Also points out that there were a couple of guys from that camp who now have a lot of experience. On Hetmyer, he says that he arrived a little late but is ready to go. On the responsibility of captaincy, he says he relishes the role, describing it as very special. Shares that whenever you represent the region, it is a great feeling.

The captain of Scotland - Richie Berrington calls it a fantastic opportunity for the group, especially with the quick turnaround coming into the tournament, and says there is a really positive feeling in the camp. Berrington shares that the squad was actually scheduled to have a fitness test today, if not for the late World Cup call. He points to Scotland’s strong performances at the last World Cup as proof of what they can do and says this is another opportunity to show their quality on the big stage. Berrington also speaks about the good memories from their previous win against West Indies, but acknowledges the quality of the opposition and says he hopes his players can show the depth and quality within their own team.

TOSS - It is toss time now in Kolkata. Shai Hope and Richie Berrington are out in the middle. Hope will flip the coin and Richie will call. Heads is the call and it lands as Heads. SCOTLAND ELECT TO BOWL FIRST.

Pakistan hold their nerve - How about that for the start of the World Cup, aye? A nerve-jangling opener it was in Colombo. Pakistan have defeated Netherlands by 3 wickets, with just 3 balls to spare. Thanks to Faheem Ashraf, who played a sensational finishing role. He smashed 24 runs in the penultimate over against Logan van Beek and got the job done for his side by smashing a boundary in the final over. But credit to the Dutchmen for fighting their hearts out in their defence of a below-par total. 

A thriller in Colombo - In the curtain raiser of this tournament, the Dutch are on the verge of something truly historic. After setting a modest target of 148 against Pakistan, they have counterpunched in a brilliant fashion. Pakistan are 7 wickets down, and they require 29 runs from the last two overs. By the time we wait for the toss here, you can follow all the live action by simply hopping to the other tab. 

What do the records say? West Indies have played five matches in Kolkata, but outside of their watershed 2016 World Cup victory over England, the venue has largely been unkind to them with a 1-4 win-loss record in T20Is. And with a 1-0 head-to-head record in favor of the Scots, the men from the Caribbean arrive with a point to prove and resurrect the respect and legacy in the format in which they were once so dangerous and imposing. With a lot at stake, this has all the ingredients to be a spicy contest. Please stay tuned for the toss and team updates. 

At the eleventh hour - Just days before the tournament began, Scotland received a call they never saw coming. Pack your bags. You’re heading to India. If not for Bangladesh’s late withdrawal, Scotland’s next outing in T20I cricket would have been a sub-regional qualifier in Copenhagen next summer. Led by Richie Berrington, they do have a decently experienced batting unit, including George Munsey, McMullen and Leask, their leading run scorers in this format. And the addition of Michael Jones and Tom Bruce to an already enviable top five only reinforces that strength. Bowling-wise, nobody comes close to Mark Watt in terms of wickets, and he would be quite a handful in these conditions, while Scotland and Brad Wheal will spearhead their pace stocks.

Same old firepower - The leadership baton has been passed to Shai Hope, and deservedly so. Since the last tournament, Hope has been West Indies’ leading run-scorer in T20I cricket, with the most half-centuries and the only centurion in that period. While recent years have been turbulent, West Indies’ batting still carries its trademark menace. Shimron Hetmyer has found form at the right time, and with power-hitters like Charles, Rutherford, Powell, and Romario Shepherd in the ranks, they retain the swashbuckling brute force. With the ball, they might look a bit thin on experience in the pace, with Holder the most senior one. But spin-wise, they do have a strong core with Hosein, Motie, and Chase.

An aim to restore the lost pride and legacy - The road to this tournament has been anything but smooth for West Indies, which has raised serious questions around consistency in the format that is long-viewed as their most preferred format. Since the last T20 World Cup, which they co-hosted with the USA, West Indies have won just 14 of their 43 matches. That stretch has yielded only three series victories, a return that underlines the uneven nature of their recent form. The two-time champions arrive with a point to prove as they rank 7th on the ICC rankings in this format.

The City of Joy is ready - It is the opening day of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, 2026 and the triple dose continues as we jump to the joyous city of Kolkata for Game 2 of the tournament. This will be the first clash from Group C as the perennial challengers, West Indies, go up against the wildcard entrants, Scotland, at the iconic Eden Gardens. On that note, hello and welcome to our coverage of what promises to be a riveting contest.

... MATCH DAY ...

Cricket’s ultimate carnival ignites - The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 descends upon the Asian subcontinent, igniting an electric atmosphere as the world's elite cricketers converge for this biennial spectacle. Co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the tournament returns high-octane action to a region where cricket is revered as a religion. Match 2 presents a fascinating clash of styles at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, where the historical might of the West Indies collides with the rising determination of Scotland. West Indies seeking a third crown! The West Indies enter this campaign as two-time champions, having secured titles in 2012 and 2016. India remains a cherished venue for the Windies; it was here at Eden Gardens that their 2016 triumph was sealed with legendary firepower. Led by Shai Hope, the current squad boasts a dangerous mix of veterans and explosive young talents like Sherfane Rutherford, Shimron Hetmyer, and Rovman Powell. However, their journey to the 2026 edition has been turbulent. A shock series loss to Nepal and a recent defeat against South Africa have raised concerns about their from heading into this ICC event. A major tactical silver lining has been the promotion of Shimron Hetmyer to the top of the order, where his high-impact scoring has provided much-needed aggression. To succeed on India's turning tracks, the Windies must find a way to marry their raw power with better spin-bowling depth and disciplined execution. Scotland - A lucky break and a grand opportunity - Scotland arrives via an unconventional path, stepping in as a late replacement following Bangladesh’s withdrawal. After the heartbreak of missing out during the European Regional Qualifiers, the Scots have been handed a golden ticket to compete on the grandest stage. This is a massive opportunity to build on their 2024 showing, where they proved they could compete with the world's best. Under the leadership of Richie Berrington, the team relies on the reliable George Munsey and the all-round capabilities of Michael Leask and Brandon McMullen. While their team spirit is their greatest asset, their recent form has been shaky, particularly in the warm-up matches. Facing a powerhouse like the West Indies in the opener will be the ultimate test of whether they can capitalize on this unexpected second chance. Head-to-Head history favors the brave - While the West Indies hold the historical edge in stature, the head-to-head record in T20 World Cups tells a different story. In their only previous meeting in this tournament back in 2022, Scotland pulled off a stunning 42-run upset against the Caribbean giants. That victory remains one of Scotland's finest hours, and they will be drawing immense confidence from the fact that they have already proven they can outplay this specific opponent on the world stage. Form (Last 5 completed T20Is, most recent first) - West Indies - WLLWL | Scotland - LLWWL. Match expectations - The buzz at Eden Gardens is palpable, with fans eager to see if the West Indies can reclaim their home away from home or if Scotland will repeat history. It is a battle between Caribbean six-hitting flair and the disciplined, gritty tactical approach of the Scots. For the Windies, it’s about redemption and for Scotland, it’s about proving they belong among the elite once and for all.