On July 22, 2025, at Sabina Park, Kingston, the 2nd T20I of the Australia tour of West Indies delivered an emphatic statement win for Australia. Chasing 173, the Visitors cruised to victory with 28 balls to spare, winning by 8 wickets and taking a commanding 2‑0 lead in the 5-match series.
This match also marked the farewell for West Indies legend Andre Russell, whose home series-ending cameo was a bittersweet moment for fans.
🌡️ Sabina Park Pitch & Conditions
- Pitch Behavior: Batting-friendly with good bounce early on, but spinners gained control middle overs as crumbly sections emerged
- Weather: Warm evening, 22–26 °C, moderate humidity, ~5% chance of rain
Though runs were on offer initially, disciplined bowling and tactical changes made this a balanced contest.
🔥 West Indies Innings – 172/8 (20 Overs)
💥 Batting Performance
| Batter | R | B | SR | Highs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon King | 51 | 36 | 141.7 | 3×4, 4×6 |
| Shimron Hetmyer | 14 | 10 | 140.0 | useful cameo |
| Andre Russell (farewell) | 36 | 15 | 240.0 | explosive late cameo |
| Gudakesh Motie (not out) | 18 | 9 | 200.0 | cameo finish |
West Indies had a bright start with King’s half‑century putting them in a position to push past 200 if the middle order held. But once the pressure mounted, key dismissals (including Hetmyer and Chase) slowed the momentum. Russell’s final appearance brought fireworks, but it was too late to push the total higher.
🎯 Fall of Wickets
Key early dismissals at 63 for 1 (King) and further rapid collapses during 98–139 cost West Indies control. Lower-order resistance from Motie added a few late runs.
🧤 West Indies Extras
Included 8 wides, which didn’t help in containing Australia’s chase
🎯 Australia Innings – 173/2 (15.2 Overs); Chase Rate: 11.28
Australia’s response was brutal. A masterclass chase with clinical boundaries and exceptional partnership sealed the game early.
💥 Batting Standouts
| Batter | R | B | SR | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Inglis (MoM) | 78* | 33 | 236.4 | 7×4, 5×6 |
| Cameron Green | 56* | 32 | 175.0 | Controlled aggression |
| Mitchell Marsh (c) | 21 | 17 | 123.5 | Good start |
| Glenn Maxwell | 12 | 10 | 120.0 | Quick cameo |
The 131-run unbeaten stand between Inglis and Green was the cornerstone of Australia’s victory. Australia lost only two early wickets (Maxwell and Marsh), after which the chase was smooth.
🧪 Key Bowling Contributions – Australia
Australia’s bowlers defended well, stopping the home side’s acceleration:
- Adam Zampa: 3/29 – crucial wickets (King, Chase, Rutherford)
- Glenn Maxwell: 2/15 – dismissed Hetmyer and held tight lines
- Nathan Ellis: 2 overs, economical, chipped in
- Ben Dwarshuis: recovered from early leaks to finish with 4 overs, 36 runs, 1 wicket
- Matthew Kuhnemann (debut): economical 0/33 in spin-friendly conditions
🧠 Turning Points of the Match
- Middle‑over collapse for West Indies: From 3/98 the hosts lost 5 wickets for just 40 runs, collapsing momentum.
- Inglis‑Green’s partnership: At precisely the moment the game seemed hostage, these two turned the game on its head.
- Russell’s farewell cameo: Emotional but too late to change match dynamics.
- Australian spin control: Maxwell and Zampa executed tight lines mid-innings to break partnerships.
🧬 Player Highlights
🌟 Josh Inglis (Australia – MoM)
A stunning knock of 78 off 33*, Inglis showed superb placement and selection. Promoted to opener, he justified the faith with record-breaking scoring pace and composure under lights
🌟 Cameron Green (Australia)
Solid support at No. 3, ending unbeaten with 56 off 32. His calm control allowed Inglis to dominate while maintaining a high chase rate.
🌟 Andre Russell (West Indies)
Scored 36 off 15 balls in his final international innings. Emotional guard-of-honour and farewell from the crowd marked the end of a celebrated career
📊 Series Implications
- Australia lead 2–0 in the five-match T20I series.
- West Indies under pressure, especially after heavy losses in the Test matches earlier.
- Australia’s squad experimentation paid off, unearthing potential T20 stars like Inglis and Owen (in 1st T20I)
⚙️ Tactical Insights & Strategy
💡 Australia:
- Flexible batting order: moving Inglis to opener, retaining Green’s all-round role.
- Spin-heavy middle overs with Zampa and Maxwell.
- Bowling resource mix: seam and spin utilized well by rotating Kuhnemann and Ellis.
💡 West Indies:
- Overreliance on a few batters – middle order failed.
- Wide extras and poor death-over execution.
- Russell’s emotional farewell overshadowed tactical execution.
- Bowling lacked control beyond early overs.
📅 What's Next?
The 3rd T20I is set for Saint Kitts on July 24 or 25. West Indies will aim to reset and regain pride, perhaps resting Russell officially, while Australia look to seal the series early.
✅ Final Thoughts
Australia’s dominant chase in Kingston encapsulated their T20 strength: aggressive batting, clinical spin and pace bowling, and tactical flexibility. For West Indies, the collapse was painful, and Russell’s farewell was bittersweet; a reminder that emotion alone cannot win matches. Australia’s young guns—Inglis, Green, and Owen—have announced themselves in this series. The next game presents West Indies with one final shot to earn respect, while Australia could wrap up the series early and enter the World Cup build-up with confidence.