28-run over blows Adam Zampa away as West Indies assault breaks world record

Aussie spinner Adam Zampa has starred with the ball this series but a single over in a West Indian onslaught has set an unwanted record.

Andre Russell and Sherfane Rutherford’s world record sixth wicket partnership has guided the West Indies to a 37-run win in just their second T20I against Australia in Australia.

The pair crunched quickfire half-centuries to propel the West Indies to 6/220 in the third and final Twenty20, with Australia only able to make 5/183 from its 20 overs.

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With the series already sealed 2-0, Australia were looking for the clean sweep in Perth, getting off to the perfect start.

The West Indies were scoring quickly but by the ninth over, were reeling at 5/79, having lost three wickets in the first three overs.

It brought Russell and Rutherford to the crease, who rescued the innings with a world record 139-run partnership for the sixth wicket, taking just 66 balls as they blasted the Aussies to all parts.

It moves past Papua New Guinea’s Tony Ura and Norman Vanua’s 115-run stand against Singapore in 2022 to the biggest of all time.

Between full member countries, it beats Cameron White and Mike Hussey’s 101 stand for Australia against Sri Lanka back in 2010.

Rutherford took some time to get in but finished with 67 off 40, but it was Russell, well known as a T20 gun for hire around the world, who truly teed off.

The big hitting West Indian blasted 71 off just 29 balls including seven sixes.

That’s what Dre Russ can do. Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images

What an innings. Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images

What a partnership. Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images

In particular, Russell took a liking to Zampa’s last over.

Having had figures of 1/37 off his first three, an unconvincing six off the first ball followed by a dot ball on the second, followed by a tough dropped catch on the boundary from Tim David saw 10 off the first three balls.

In commentary for Fox Sports, Mike Hussey asked: “How much is that going to cost them?”

Well, in that over, the maximum, as Russell blasted three consecutive sixes for 28 off the penultimate over to push the West Indies past 200.

Zampa finished with figures of 1/65, the worst T20I figures by an Australian, moving past Andrew Tye’s 2/64 against New Zealand in 2018 and Aaron Hardie’s 1/64 against India last year.

Of those 65 runs, Russell took 43 off just 11 balls.

Andre Russell against Adam Zampa in the 19th over
6,0,4,6,6,6
Truly a beast 🔥🔥#AUSvsWIpic.twitter.com/ZRGYghCaHb

— 𝐘𝐒𝐗 💫 (@savagestranger3) February 13, 2024

Horrible bowling from Zampa. Absolute pies. #AUSvWI

— Ash (@_hattrickash_) February 13, 2024

Andre Russell hits 6,0,4,6,6,6 in an over against Adam Zampa.

- This is Destruction of Russell. pic.twitter.com/J2CGa38dGK

— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) February 13, 2024

Russell scored 43 (11) vs Zampa today!
Proper MONSTER.

— Rᴀɪᴋᴀᴛ  (@OverMidWicket) February 13, 2024

Really happy zampa got hammered today, haven't seen him getting this type belt treatment lately.

— Kashif (@Kaaye_6) February 13, 2024

The onslaught came after Aussie great Ian Healy slammed Russell after going for 0/59 in the second game, calling his bowling “rubbish”.

After going into bat at No. 7, Healy unloaded.

“That’s ridiculous. But he’s obviously selfish and that’s all he’s batting at. Otherwise, you’d have him at four, especially in a run-chase like that,” Healy said on SEN Queensland.

“It’s pathetic that the West Indies underuse him like we have underused Tim David in the past, but they’re slowly moving him up behind Maxwell.”

Maybe wait until after the series next time Heals! Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images

The West Indies took 84 from the last five overs, setting a huge total for Australia to chase.

Speaking after the innings Russell said “I love to entertain the crowd”.

Russell said he didn’t get much from Zampa early and that his mindset was “I’m going to go at everything".

Having gone from 5/79 to 6/220, Russell said: “I think that’s the advantage of this team — we’re never out.

“Five wickets down, there wasn’t any panic inside the changing room and when you have a team like this, I know what I can do, Rutherford is such a dangerous player in the middle, we have Jason (Holder), we have (Romario) Shepard to come so I wasn’t really worried to play my shots.

“I was happy we’re coming together and we’re definitely playing as a unit.”

It’s okay Zamps, it wasn’t your night. Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images

The chase began in promising fashion for Australia with 68 for the first wicket, although David Warner played the biggest hand.

Marsh was the first man out for 17, as Warner creamed 81 off 49 balls.

However, with the exception of Tim David, who finished 41 not out off 19 balls, no other Aussies could get a start as the visitors flexed their muscles.

Roston Chase starred with the ball, proving near impossible to get away, taking 2/19 off his four overs.

By the time Warner was dismissed, the match was all but over.