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A Guard of Honour, Then Fireworks
The evening began with a touching moment as both teams lined up to offer a guard of honour for Andre Russell, who officially bid farewell to international cricket after a storied career. Playing in front of a packed home crowd, emotions were high. And while Russell delivered a trademark power-hitting display, it was Australia who stole the show — and the series.
Opting to field first after winning the toss, Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh backed his bowlers to contain the West Indian firepower. Making his T20I debut, left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann impressed early on, stifling the openers with a tight first spell that cost just 10 runs in two overs.
King Leads the Charge but West Indies Falter
Despite the steady start, Brandon King broke free in Kuhnemann’s third over, smashing 20 runs to give the West Indies momentum in the powerplay. Shai Hope, however, struggled to rotate strike and failed to support King’s aggressive approach. King raced to a fluent half-century by the eighth over, keeping the hosts on course for a strong total.
But the introduction of leg-spinner Adam Zampa proved pivotal. King fell attempting one shot too many, miscuing a slog that gifted Australia their breakthrough. Maxwell then struck gold, removing Hope on the very next delivery. Shimron Hetmyer too fell cheaply, undone by Maxwell’s clever variations.
Suddenly, the hosts went from 80/1 to 98/4, losing momentum just as the innings was set to explode. Zampa’s double strike in his final over — removing Roston Chase and Sherfane Rutherford — deepened the collapse and left Russell with a mountain to climb.
Russell Delivers One Final Blitz
True to form, Andre Russell walked in with purpose and left the ground to a standing ovation. The power-hitting legend rolled back the years, smashing three massive sixes off Ben Dwarshuis and then tearing into Zampa in the next over.
In just 11 balls, Russell raced to 31, eventually finishing on 36 off 15 deliveries. However, a well-disguised slower ball from Nathan Ellis brought an end to his final knock, as he miscued a lofted drive into the hands of long-off.
Russell walked back, bat raised, helmet off — greeted by roars of appreciation from the crowd and hugs from teammates. Though his innings gave West Indies a fighting chance, the collapse around him and failures from Holder and Powell meant the hosts finished on 172/8. Gudakesh Motie’s late cameo pushed the total past 170, but the damage had already been done.
Inglis and Green Turn the Tables
In reply, Australia wasted no time. Glenn Maxwell set the tone with a four and six off the first over from Akeal Hosein, but was dismissed in the second over by Jason Holder. Mitchell Marsh looked dangerous before top-edging a pull off Russell for 21, giving West Indies early hope.
But Inglis and Green soon took the game away.
After three dropped catches in the seventh over — all off Gudakesh Motie — West Indies saw their chances slip, quite literally. Inglis capitalised instantly, smashing 32 runs off the next two overs with a combination of clean hitting and quick footwork. Green joined the onslaught with a monstrous six off Chase that signalled Australia’s complete takeover.
Inglis Goes Berserk, Green Follows Suit
Inglis was in destructive form, bringing up his fifty off just 23 deliveries. He welcomed Russell’s first over with a towering six that landed deep in the stands — a fitting response to the farewell fireworks earlier. The right-hander mixed elegance with brutality, peppering the boundary with ease.
Cameron Green was equally effective at the other end, unfazed by the West Indian bowlers. He brought up his own half-century in the 15th over, just before Australia crossed the finish line in style. The duo’s unbeaten 131-run partnership came off just 62 balls — a masterclass in T20 chasing.
By the time the game ended, Australia had cruised to 173/2 in just 15.1 overs. It was a statement win and one that gave the visitors an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Match Summary
West Indies: 172/8 in 20 overs
(Brandon King 54, Andre Russell 36; Zampa 3/26, Maxwell 2/21)
Australia: 173/2 in 15.1 overs
(Josh Inglis 74*, Cameron Green 61*; Holder 1/24, Russell 1/29)
Russell’s Legacy – A Bitter-Sweet Farewell
Though Russell’s final performance was vintage in many ways — explosive, crowd-pleasing, and emotional — it ultimately came in a losing cause. The all-rounder finishes his international career with a reputation as one of the most feared hitters in world cricket, with unforgettable spells of brilliance in T20 leagues and big moments for the West Indies.
The defeat, however, highlighted the transitional challenges the Caribbean side continues to face. Dropped catches, inconsistent batting, and lack of discipline in death overs cost them dearly — and not for the first time.
For Australia, the performance reaffirmed their depth. Inglis’ knock served as a reminder of the strength in their batting lineup beyond Warner, Marsh, and Maxwell, while Green’s continued evolution as a dependable all-format player adds further value to the squad.
What’s Next?
With the T20 World Cup just months away, both sides will be looking to fine-tune their squads. For West Indies, finding balance and consistency will be key. For Australia, the focus shifts to maintaining momentum and experimenting with combinations.
Russell may have walked into the sunset, but cricket fans will remember his final knock for its intensity and character — even if Inglis and Green played the perfect party-poopers.
