Just me expressing myself – Russell

By Amindha de Alwis

West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell who exhibited a brutal display of power-hitting with a boundary-laden unbeaten 65 off 19 balls to lead Colombo Kings to their second victory of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) in a truncated 5-over affair versus Galle Gladiators on Saturday, said that the match situation allowed him to express himself on a night where everything seemed to click for the powerful Jamaican.

“I guess in a situation like what happened today (it) was just me expressing myself. Seeing ball hitting ball. Everything seemed to work. Even when the ball went to the fielders there were misfields that go for four and I think when it is your day it is your day,” he said.

Russell brought up his half-century in just 14 balls, the fastest T20 fifty ever scored in Sri Lanka and was instrumental in taking Colombo Kings up to 96 for 1 after inclement weather had resulted in the match being reduced to five overs per side. Incidentally, the total broke the overall record for the highest team score in a 5-over innings. 

Russell was particularly severe on Pakistan quick Mohammad Amir, taking him for 46 runs in two overs.

“14 balls 50 runs is difficult in any cricket. To be honest, when I got to fifty and heard the guys clapping and cheering in the dugout, I looked at the scoreboard and when I realized that I got fifty in 14, I’m like wow! But because I was in the zone, I was not thinking about the scoreboard, just that the more runs we get the better for our bowlers (to defend),” Russell said.

Russell further stated that yesterday’s conditions were conducive for stroke-making and that his knock was a testament to the hard work he had been putting in lately.

“The wicket was good, fast outfield and the ball was coming on to the bat. Getting 97 was very good for us. The hard work I have been putting over the last few weeks paid off and it just goes to show, when you push yourself, good things happen,” Russell remarked.