WI vs SCO | Twitter delirious as Hetmyer gets a legend-like reception from teammates after plucking blinder

Gantavya Adukia

ByGantavya Adukia,SportsCafe Editor

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Confidence can move mountains, and is all the difference sometimes in elite sports between having a stinker and a legendary game. Shimron Hetmyer was certainly brimming in Kolkata on Saturday, as he backed-up a match-winning knock with the potential catch of the tournament in the World Cup opener.

West Indies put up a commanding total of 182/5 on the opening day of the 2026 T20 World Cup, against Scotland at the Eden Gardens. Shimron Hetmyer was the standout batter as he smashed 64 runs in just 36 deliveries, clearing the boundaries six times in the process to go with a couple of boundaries. While such a performance would have been enough to earn him player of the match honours should West Indies manage to secure a win, the hard-hitting supernova decided he still had more to contribute to the team in the field, and how.

Despite losing two early wickets in the powerplay, Scotland had George Munsey humming along early on as he raced to 19 off 14 deliveries with a four off Shamar Joseph in the sixth over. Joseph responded by firing one in at pace at Munsey's ribs but the Scot managed to get substantial bat and help it along in the vacant square leg region. The ball seemed destined for the boundary, even with Hetmyer haring along to his right from fine leg, when the veteran suddenly leapt off the surface and dove towards the Kookaburra, hands outstretched. Mircaulously, the ball stuck in his right palm like two opposite ends of a magnet, much to the shock of Munsey. The decibels levels rose instantly around the stands but Hetmyer remained unfettered as he nonchalantly picked himself off the ground. However, Joseph had other plans, as the quick wheeled away towards his compatriot in full flight while the rest of the Windies team chased him before taking Hetmyer in his arms and lifting him off to bring a big grin on the batter's face. Akeal Hosein, meanwhile, took a different approach as he stopped short of the celebrating contingent and unfurled a magnanimous bow to acknowledge the incrdulity of what Hetmyer had pulled off amidst scenes of sheer joy.

Twitterati was enthralled, to say the least.

Unreal!

What a catch!

Superb one!

Flying!

Brilliant!

Stunning!

Superb one!

Superman!

Great!

🔥

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