Andre Russell brought the fireworks in his farewell match, but it wasn’t enough to take West Indies over the line. Josh Inglis’ explosive innings and a record-breaking partnership with Cameron Green powered Australia to a dominant victory.
As Russell descended the steps to the field, players from both sides lined up to give him a guard of honor. Amid loud applause from the crowd, he smiled and waved as he walked out. Waiting to honor him was Jamaica’s Minister of Sports, Entertainment, and Culture, Olivia Grange. She unveiled a special memento wrapped in the Jamaican flag— a bat and ball framed like a guitar. One commentator summed it up beautifully: “It’s the rhythm of reggae and the heartbeat of cricket fused into one.”
Russell had wished for a farewell on home soil, and Jamaica gave him that love and tribute. The memento and ceremonies reflected the island’s deep appreciation for their cricketing hero. And when he stepped onto the pitch for the last time in West Indies colors, he lit it up one final time. But sadly, it wasn’t a winning goodbye for either of the two-time World Cup-winning veterans.
After some tight bowling from their spinners, Australia chased down 173 with ease thanks to Inglis’ brutal 78* off 33 and Green’s 56* from 32 balls. Their unbeaten 131-run stand for the third wicket broke Australia’s previous T20 record of 118 by Finch and Maxwell in 2014.
Maxwell opened the innings but hasn’t quite looked his fluent self lately. He struck a four and six in the first over but was dismissed in the next. Captain Mitch Marsh followed shortly after, scoring 21 off 17 balls.
But Inglis and Green crushed West Indies’ hopes with a flurry of boundaries. Their aggressive batting tore through the Caribbean bowling, and the home side’s six dropped catches—two by Russell himself—only deepened the wounds.
Earlier, West Indies posted 173/8 after being put in to bat. Brandon King was the standout with a 36-ball 51, but the rest of the top and middle order faltered under the spin pressure from Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell. Between them, they took five wickets in six overs for just 35 runs. Russell’s 15-ball 36 and a late cameo from Gudakesh Motie (18 off 9) helped the hosts push past 170.
However, their total proved far from enough. Australia cruised home with 28 balls to spare, taking a 2–0 lead in the five-match series.
Despite Inglis being named Player of the Match, the spotlight remained on Russell. After the game, fans gathered around him for photos and autographs. The 37-year-old all-rounder embraced his teammates one last time, marking the end of a glittering West Indies career.
The next match takes place in St. Kitts, Saturday at 5:00 AM Bangladesh time.
