Russell hits 15-ball 36 in farewell, but Australia win again

A blistering, record third-wicket stand for Australia between Josh Inglis and Cameron Green, combined with five wickets to Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell, denied Andre Russell a fairytale farewell to international cricket at Sabina Park and handed the visitors a 2-0 series lead.

Player-of-the-Match Inglis smashed 78 not out off just 33 balls, with seven fours and five sixes, while Green made his second consecutive half-century, finishing on 56 off 33, to guide Australia to the target of 173 with eight wickets and 28 balls to spare after they were 42 for 2 in the powerplay.

West Indies dropped six catches, including three in the seventh over of the chase.

Inglis and Green were dropped twice each. Russell unfortunately dropped Inglis and Mitchell Marsh and conceded 16 in his last international over, having given West Indies hope with a remarkable 36 off 15 to rescue the home side from 99 for 5 in the first half.

Earlier, Zampa and Maxwell had scythed through the top order, taking 3 for 29 and 2 for 15 respectively after West Indies had reached 63 for no loss by the eighth over thanks to Brandon King’s 51 from 36.

A blistering, record third-wicket stand for Australia between Josh Inglis and Cameron Green, combined with five wickets to Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell, denied Andre Russell a fairytale farewell to international cricket at Sabina Park and handed the visitors a 2-0 series lead.

Player-of-the-Match Inglis smashed 78 not out off just 33 balls, with seven fours and five sixes, while Green made his second consecutive half-century, finishing on 56 off 33, to guide Australia to the target of 173 with eight wickets and 28 balls to spare after they were 42 for 2 in the powerplay.

West Indies dropped six catches, including three in the seventh over of the chase.

Inglis and Green were dropped twice each. Russell unfortunately dropped Inglis and Mitchell Marsh and conceded 16 in his last international over, having given West Indies hope with a remarkable 36 off 15 to rescue the home side from 99 for 5 in the first half.

Earlier, Zampa and Maxwell had scythed through the top order, taking 3 for 29 and 2 for 15 respectively after West Indies had reached 63 for no loss by the eighth over thanks to Brandon King’s 51 from 36.

Dre Russ puts on one final show

The crowd rose as one when Russell walked out to bat after earlier receiving a guard of honour from the two teams at a pre-match presentation.

West Indies’ talisman and Jamaica’s hero rose to the occasion one more time, thumping three sixes in his first five balls off Ben Dwarshuis to get the home side back on track. He took down Zampa in the following over for a six and a four to dent the legspinner’s figures.

Russell was 35 off 12 and threatening to destroy Australia in the death overs but he was undone by the guile of Nathan Ellis with Inglis holding a towering skier.

Every Australian player shook Russell’s hand before he soaked in a standing ovation on the way off.

Australia were a little shook thereafter. Both Cooper Connolly and Dwarshuis dropped simple catches in the deep while Mitchell Owen missed a simple run out to allow Gudakesh Motie to eke out 18 not out from nine balls and help West Indies post a defendable 172 for 8. (ESPNcricinfo)