Caribbean Premier League: Andre Russell's Record Ton Takes Jamaica Tallawahs to Final

The fastest ever Caribbean Premier League century by Andre Russell helped the Jamaica Tallawahs defeat the Trinbago Knight Riders in Warner Park, St Kitts to secure a place in Sunday's final against Guyana Amazon Warriors.

Russell came to the crease with Jamaica Tallawahs tottering at 67 for four. Russell's 42-ball hundred took Jamaica to an imposing 195 for 7, a total that was always going to be tough for the Knight Riders to chase in a rain-hit contest.

Jamaica Tallawahs won by 19 runs via the Duckworth Lewis Stern method as Knight Riders struggled to get going as Russell followed up his batting heroics with two wickets.

The Tallawahs got off to a brisk start thanks to Chris Gayle, who cut the third ball that he faced for four runs.

Gayle looked to be the mood for a big score, reaching 36 from 26 balls, but he mistimed a pull shot to a good length ball from Kevon Cooper that was caught on the midwicket boundary by Colin Munro.

With Kumar Sangakkara also holing out in the deep, the Tallawahs were struggling to take control of the innings, finding themselves 58-3 in the 8th over.

Pressure on Andre Russell

The pressure was on Russell to rescue Tallawahs and he was in some discomfort shortly after arriving at the crease. He ducked into short ball from Bravo that struck him on the hand.

After some attention from the physio, he was able to continue and struck 100 from 43 deliveries, studded with 11 sixes.

What a performance from this man @Russell12A our Man of the Match #CPL16 #JAMvTKR pic.twitter.com/DyFkFKdzvw

- CPL T20 (@CPL) August 6, 2016

A lengthy rain delay did not hold up Russell as he shared a stand of 100 with Shakib al Hasan, making 82 of those runs himself.

Career-best knock for Andre Russell

It was a career-best performance from Russell, passing the 77 he made for Worcestershire versus Somerset in 2013. He reached his maiden T20 hundred with a straight six and he dropped to his knees roaring with delight.

When the Knight Riders got under way, Umar Akmal was run out after a mix up with Hashim Amla. Knight Riders were 9 for one wicket.

After a rain delay, the target for Knight Riders was set at 130 in 12 overs. While Amla struggled. the in-form New Zealander Colin Munro kept his team in the game but the Knight Riders chase petered out after a flurry of wickets fell.

The Tallawahs will now go on to the final to face the Guyana Amazon Warriors, the team they lost to in the first play-off match on Wednesday. The Jamaica side will be hoping for a different result on Sunday.