Andre Russell etched his name in West Indies‘ T20 World Cup history on Sunday by becoming their leading wicket-taker in the tournament. This feat unfolded during the crucial Super 8 encounter against South Africa at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua & Barbuda.
Russell, who began the match tied with Dwayne Bravo on 27 wickets, claimed two crucial scalps to move to a total of 29 wickets. This dismissal of Reeza Hendricks for a first-ball duck and the inform Quinton de Kock for 12 runs put the Windies in a strong position before rain halted play.
Hendricks’ Dismissal Sets the Tone
The dismissal of Hendricks was a particularly memorable moment. The Proteas opener was caught down the leg-side by wicketkeeper Nicholas Pooran in an unfortunate turn of events. Russell then followed up by dismissing the dangerous de Kock, who was caught at deep backward square leg by Sherfane Rutherford.
With these two wickets, Russell surpassed not only Bravo but also former Windies spinner Samuel Badree to become the undisputed leader in World Cup wicket-taking for the Caribbean side. This accomplishment adds another layer to Russell’s already impressive resume.
West Indies Struggle with the Bat but Russell Makes an Impact
While Russell’s bowling heroics were a highlight for the Windies, their batting performance on the challenging North Sound surface was less impressive. They could only manage a total of 136 runs in their allotted 20 overs. Kyle Mayers (35 runs) and Roston Chase (52 runs) were the lone bright spots for the home team’s batting lineup.
Russell himself chipped in with a valuable 15 runs off just 9 balls, showcasing his all-round talent. However, South Africa’s Tabraiz Shamsi proved to be the chief destructor with the ball, claiming 3 wickets for just 27 runs. The remaining South African bowlers also contributed with a wicket each before the rain intervened. Despite that, South Africa managed to win the game comfortably.
Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, and Instagram
