JAMAICA Kingsmen all-rounder Andre Russell says the blazing powerplay from openers Kirk McKenzie and Reeza Hendricks gave his team a “high per cent chance” of winning, as the franchise kick-started its Caribbean Premier League (CPL) campaign with a five-wicket win over Trinbago Knight Riders at a near-packed Sabina Park on Saturday.

Sent in to bat, the Knight Riders posted 182-6 from 20 overs. Captain Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard each hit 44. Pooran fired four sixes and one four off 32 balls, while the veteran Pollard hammered four sixes and three fours off only 22 deliveries. Alex Hales made 29 and Colin Munro added 16.

For the Kingsmen, Russell and Hunain Shah took two wickets each. Russell conceded 34 from four overs, while Shah gave away 31 from his full allotment.

In reply, the Kingsmen raced to 183-5 in 18.4 overs behind a career-best, 25-ball 69 from opener Kirk McKenzie. He hit six fours and six sixes and shared a 93-run opening stand with Hendricks, who made 37.

Trinbago Knight Riders batsman Kieron Pollard pulls the ball during his knock of 44 as Jamaica Kingsmen wicketkeeper Shayan Jahangir looks on in the Caribbean Premier League match at Sabina Park.

The wheels wobbled briefly when Usman Tariq removed McKenzie on the last ball of the seventh over, then bowled Shayan Jahangir for two and had Hendricks caught next over.

Pollard had Keacy Carty caught for 11 to leave the Kingsmen at 126-4 in the 14th over but Captain Rovman Powell and Russell steadied things with a 48-run stand. Russell smashed a quick 27 off 15 balls to leave the Kingsmen 174-4 in the 18th over.

Powell finished 29 not out and Hasan Khan was three not out as the Kingsmen got home with eight balls to spare. Tarig finished with three for 21 from four overs.

“Kirk McKenzie and Reeza Hendricks batting in the power play, it was tremendous. When you get a start like that you’re basically 80-90 per cent chance of winning the game,” Russell said in a post-match interview.

This fan revels in Jamaica Kingsmen’s performance against Trinbago Knight Riders on Saturday.

The veteran also said he plans to have a word with McKenzie about shot selection, after the youngster was bowled by Tariq trying an aggressive shot.

“I think the way he got out, I need to have a chat with him because it caused us to lose two wickets in quick succession. And I think T20 is such a funny game. The ball is round, and when you have good, quality spinners like what the Trinbago Knight Riders have we can’t take anything for granted.

“He was set, Reeza was set at the crease. That ball wasn’t there to hit.

“But I’m happy for him tonight. He batted out of his skin. He played some excellent shots and took on the bowling attack and so I’m happy for this win,” Russell noted.

Captain Rovman Powell (left) and Andre Russell of Jamaica Kingsmen knock bats during the 2026 Caribbean Premier League match against Trinbago Knight Riders at Sabina Park on Saturday.

Russell, a former Knight Rider, said he used his knowledge of their tactics to help plan. He even asked the groundsmen at Sabina Park — Jamaica’s premier cricket ground — for the middle pitch on the batting square to counter TKR’s “wide ball” plans to exploit short boundaries.

“I know… they like to bowl the ball for you to hit to one side of the ground. And, you know, it starts from the groundsmen. I told the groundsman, ‘Let us play in the middle.’ And it’s our home. We should use the advantage to the best of our ability.

“And if one side was bigger than one side, then they would have maybe out played us in the bowling department, but I think [given the] mind games that I know they play, I kind of counteract[ed] that tonight,” he explained.

Russell emphasised the importance of winning at home in Jamaica, crediting the energetic crowd for pushing the team to victory.

Kirk Mckenzie of Jamaica Kingsmen acknowledges fans after his 25-ball 69 against Trinbago Knight Riders on Saturday.

Reeza Hendricks of Jamaica Kingsmen bats during the Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 match against Trinbago Kinght Riders at Sabina Park in Kingston on August 15, 2026. Photos: Naphtali Junior

“It means a lot to our full house tonight. I think we have to give the fans credit because that really helped to push us and to give us this victory tonight, so it means a lot to the team and the franchise, and also for Jamaica and the cricket lovers in Jamaica.”

Russell highlighted the significance of the CPL returning to Jamaica for the first time since 2019. He noted the high attendance — surpassing recent West Indies international matches — and hopes the Government’s renewed support and the team’s exciting play will sustain local interest.

“It means a lot. Not just to us as players, but I think for this, for this lovely island, that cricket is such a big sport in this [country]. When you talk about sports you’re talking about football, track and field, cricket — and we are happy to have the Government back on our side and, you know, we getting the energy that we need.

“And as you can see tonight, I haven’t seen this at Sabina Park for a while. And even when West Indies come out to play here, we don’t see this type of crowd. So I think this will motivate all these fans that came out tonight, and they might try to make an effort to come back Tuesday night, even though it’s a work week,” he said.