Andre Russell Smashes 4 Sixes In His Last T20I Innings: Andre Russell played a characteristic blistering innings in his final T20I match on Tuesday night in front of his home crowd, delivering one final assault in the West Indies colors.
Though the West Indies lost the match in a thumping fashion, now going 0-2 down against Australia in the five-match T20I series, Russell’s onslaught was spectacular and gave the fans plenty to cheer about.
After managing just eight runs in the first WI vs AUS T20I, which was his penultimate international game, the lanky all-rounder blasted 36 runs off only 15 balls, turning back the clock and giving a glimpse of his abilities when he was at his best a few years ago.
That he did it in front of his home crowd at Sabina Park in Jamaica made his last international outing a memorable one for Russell.
He walked in at West Indies’ score of 98/5 in the 14th over. Others might have taken a bit of a conservative approach to steer the side to a respectable total before exploding in the last few overs. But not Russell. And definitely not in his last knock for the West Indies.
He batted with the same intent and without paying much heed to the scorecard as he had done throughout his career, clobbering four sixes and two fours in his brief but impactful stay.
Andre Russell dumped Ben Dwarshuis for a six down the ground on the second ball he faced in this innings. Dwarshuis then went short. Russell went after him with a pull. He didn’t connect it well, but the top edge flew over the keeper for another six.
A couple of balls later came Russell’s best shot of the night: a powerful pull shot to a length delivery, sending the ball flying over mid-wicket.
Throughout his career, one of Russell’s major weaknesses has been quality leg-spin. However, tonight, he tonked Adam Zampa, one of the most experienced white-ball leg-spinners in the world, for a four and a six on consecutive balls. He would then also whack Nathan Ellis for a four before losing his wicket to the same pacer.
Russell got a standing ovation from the crowd as he walked off the field after completing his last T20I innings for the West Indies.
Video: Andre Russell Smashes 4 Sixes In His Last T20I Innings During WI vs AUS 2nd T20I
Russell bowed out of T20I cricket with 1122 runs, scored at a strike rate of 163, with three fifties. He also picked up 61 wickets in the shortest international format.
Andre Russell was part of the West Indies’ twin T20 World Cup-winning squads in 2012 and 2016. In the 2016 T20 World Cup final against England, he had taken the wicket of England opener Alex Hales.
Speaking after playing his last T20I matches, Andre Russell said,
“I just want to say thanks, thanks to the people in the Sabina Park and to the WICB for the opportunity. Just happy to play in front of the home crowd, the result didn’t go our way, but I’m just happy to have played so many matches and wish the team the best going forward.
Thanks for all the support, I really appreciate it the most. I remember the two World Cups we won, the flags going high, but at the end of the day – I think it was time to move ahead. Amazing to finish my career at the Sabina Park, the result didn’t go our way, but that’s the game of cricket. You’ve supported us a lot and do keep supporting us going ahead.”
Australia chased down the target of 173 runs comfortably as Josh Inglis blasted 78* runs off 33 balls and Cameron Green hit 56* off 32 balls.
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