Barbados Tridents Survive Andre Russell Onslaught to Beat Jamaica Kingsmen by Five Runs
By Ahmed Raza | Last updated: August 12, 2026
Barbados Tridents began their CPL 2026 campaign with a five-run win over Jamaica Kingsmen at Sabina Park, holding their nerve in the final over after Andre Russell threatened to steal the game away with a blistering assault.
Chasing 207 for victory, Kingsmen looked out of contention at 60 for 5 inside nine overs as Daniel Sams and Chris Green shared four wickets between them, with Gudakesh Motie also striking. Russell then joined Keacy Carty in a rapid stand of 72 runs from just 30 balls, with Carty making 28 and Russell 39, to swing momentum back toward the hosts.
Sams struck twice in quick succession in the 14th over to remove Carty, who finished with 45, and Keemo Paul, but Russell kept going, adding 29 runs off his next 17 balls. He found support from Vitel Lawes, who struck 32 off 20 balls as the pair put on 69 for the eighth wicket to bring Kingsmen right back into the contest.
With 15 needed off the final over, Ramon Simmonds conceded just nine runs to seal the win for Tridents. Russell hit a six early in the over before holing out attempting another, and Lawes was run out attempting a strike-rotating single. Hunain Shah needed six off the last ball but could not connect, sealing the result for Barbados.
Russell finished unbeaten in defeat with nine sixes and no fours, a rare feat in T20 cricket bettered only by Shimron Hetmyer’s 11-six knock for Guyana Amazon Warriors in CPL 2024. His innings also took him past 800 career T20 sixes, moving him behind only Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard on the all-time list.
Earlier, after being sent in to bat, Tridents posted the highest total of the season so far. Zachary Carter, on CPL debut, put on 40 with Brandon King for the opening stand before King added 72 with Quinton de Kock, who made 42 off 25 balls. King then shared a 93-run third-wicket partnership with Sherfane Rutherford, who finished unbeaten on 50 off 28 balls, before King was dismissed for 73 off 51 balls in the penultimate delivery of the innings.
Daniel Sams took 4 for 20 for Kingsmen and was named Player of the Match despite the defeat. The result leaves Jamaica Kingsmen winless after two matches to start CPL 2026, while Barbados Tridents open their campaign with a victory.
