West Indies undone by Scotland's spinners in 42-run defeat

Mark Watt (3 for 12) and Michael Leask (2 for 15) were the architects of West Indies' downfall as the Caribbean side crumbled in pursuit of 161

Hobart: Scotland 160-5, West Indies 118 - Scotland won by 42 runs

Scorecard

West Indies were undone by Scotland's spinners in Hobart with the two-time T20 World Cup champions crumbling to an 42-run defeat in their tournament opener.

Mark Watt (3 for 12) and Michael Leask (2 for 15) were the architects of West Indies' downfall in what should have been a fairly routine chase of 161. George Munsey had earlier starred for Scotland with the bat, anchoring his side's innings with a knock of 66 off 53 - his eighth T20I half-century.

After being asked to bat first, Scotland flew out of the blocks, Munsey and Michael Jones striking nine boundaries to bring up 50 inside five overs. However, rain forced the players off midway through the sixth over and when they returned, West Indies had regrouped.

Jason Holder, introduced into the attack in the seventh over, struck with his second ball of the day, bowling Jones for 20 (17), and grabbed his second in the ninth, Matthew Cross picking out Shamarh Brooks to depart for 3 (5).

Richard Berrington dispatched Akeal Hosein for a 92-metre six during his stay in the middle but fell to Alzarri Joseph (caught Kyle Mayers) in the 12th: Scotland 86 for 3.

^{George Munsey played a crucial knock with the bat [David Gray/Getty Images]}

Calum MacLeod (23) enjoyed a 14-ball cameo, smashing four boundaries before finding Brandon King at midwicket to reignite his side's innings. He was soon joined in the changing rooms by Leask (4), who fell victim to Joseph's yorker, but Munsey, who had found runs hard to come by after his lightning start, ensured Scotland finished their innings with a bang, finding the boundary on three occasions in the final over. 

Holder (2 for 14), who only bowled three overs despite being his side's best bowler, and Joseph (2 for 28) picked up two wickets apiece while Smith collected 1 for 31.

Kyle Mayers, Evin Lewis and King made a similarly fast start for West Indies, who finished the powerplay just one run behind Scotland but two wickets down at 53 for 2. Josh Davey brought Mayers' 20-run assault (13 balls) to an end, the opener picking out Munsey in the deep, before Brad Wheal accounted for Lewis (caught Jones) off the penultimate delivery of the sixth over.

A middle-over wobble followed the powerplay, but unlike Scotland they didn't have the stabilising presence of Munsey to fall back on.

Watt was the first to strike, bowling King for 17 (15) in the eighth over, and fellow spinner Leask added to West Indies' misery in the ninth, captain Pooran departing for 4.

Leask captured his second wicket one ball after drinks, Rovman Powell caught by MacLeod for 5, and he had a hand in the next two wickets to fall, taking the catch to remove Brooks off the bowling of Wheal and combining with Cross to runout Hosein. And when Watt had Joseph caught behind, West Indies were in disarray on 79 for 8 in the 14th over.

Holder and Smith ensured West Indies at least made it to three figures, passing 100 in the 16th over, before Watt collected his third of the day. Smith picked out Chris Greaves in the deep to depart for 5.

Safyaan Sharif wrapped up the two points in the penultimate over, Greaves hanging onto another catch to remove Holder - West Indies' brightest performer - for 38 (33).