‘Can’t believe it’: Andre Russell survives baffling moment in Big Bash League clash

West Indies all-rounder Andrew Russell was arguably lucky to survive this baffling moment during the Melbourne Stars run chase.

West Indies superstar Andre Russell put together a vintage T20 masterclass against the Sydney Thunder on Sunday evening, but his entertaining knock arguably should have ended in the 15th over of the Melbourne Stars run chase.

On the final ball of the Power Surge, young leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha cramped the two-time T20 World Cup champion with a full delivery that was edged onto his front foot.

The ball rolled into the stumps with some considerable force, but to everyone’s surprise, the bails were unmoved.

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Thunder wicketkeeper Sam Billings threw his hands to his head, while Sangha crouched down onto the deck, forcing a smile. Russell could only giggle and shake his head in disbelief.

“What happened there? Tanveer Sangha can’t believe it,” former Australian all-rounder Brendan Julian said on Fox Cricket commentary.

“No way, that is so unlucky. That cannoned into the middle stump. That could not hit the stumps any harder.”

Must be glue on those stumps😂😂😂 #BBL11

— nemzy (@nemani_nadolo) December 12, 2021

The bails are obviously huge Dre Russ fans. #BBL11

— Alex Fair (@AJFair85) December 12, 2021

“I couldn’t really believe it,” Sangha told reporters after the match.

“Sometimes, it is what it is, and you’ve just got to live with it.”

The Stars ultimately secured a comfortable six-wicket victory over the Thunder, chasing down the 152-run target with 17 balls to spare.

Russell was awarded Player of the Match honours for an unbeaten 42 off 21 balls, which included a whopping 102-metre six off Sangha – but the Jamaican was impressed with what he saw from the 20-year-old on Sunday.

Earlier, Sangha removed T20 World Cup champions Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell in consecutive deliveries, briefly shifting momentum back in the Thunder’s favour.

“After the game I said to him, ‘Listen, you have a big heart, and I like spinners who are not afraid to bowl to big-hitters,’ and he was doing really, really well,” Russell told reporters.

“He was bowling into my body and mixing his pace up as well. I observed that about him, and he has a bright future. I wish him all the best.”

Sam Billings of the Thunder and Andre Russell of the Stars react after the ball hit the stumps but didn't dislodge the bails. Photo by Mark Kolbe – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images

Earlier, Alex Ross cracked an unbeaten 77 off 49 balls to resurrect the Thunder innings.

The hosts were 4/102 with three overs remaining before Ross and all-rounder Daniel Sams collectively struck 49 runs in the last three overs – including six sixes – to boost the team total to 5/151.

Ross smacked four consecutive boundaries off Russell in the penultimate over, but the West Indies all-rounder made up for that costly over with the bat.

“He’s awesome, no boundary is big enough, that six he hit over the long boundary at deep mid-wicket went 30 metres over the rope,” Stars captain Glenn Maxwell said after the match.

“It’s scary for teams to face him. He was fantastic tonight.”

The Stars will next face the Sydney Sixers at the SCG on Wednesday evening, with the first ball scheduled for 7.15pm AEDT.