Watch: Andre Russell hit eight sixes, including six in as many balls, en route to a 24-ball 72 during a crucial 6ixty clash between Trinbago Knight Riders and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.
The equation for Trinbago Knight Riders was simple: with one win in two games, they needed to hit at least eight sixes in their last league game on Saturday to qualify for the playoffs of the inaugural season of The 6ixty. According to the rules of the 10-over tournament, if two teams were tied on points, the side that hit the most sixes in the first round would go to the next stage.
Russell decided to take on the responsibility to hit all of them by himself. It was also what he does best. Walking in at No.3, with his side at 23-1 after 2.1 overs, he started off aggressively, taking the attack to the opposition, smashing 36 runs in six balls, albeit across different overs.
The carnage began in the last four balls of the seventh over, bowled by Dominic Drakes. Russell first went after a slightly wide ball; then he went on to hit three more sixes. The onslaught continued against Jon-Russ Jaggesar as well: Russell hit him for two sixes before slowing down and getting a four on the third ball of the over.
He was dismissed for a 24-ball 72, his innings containing five fours and eight sixes. Trinbago Knight Riders went on to score 155-5 in their ten overs, and eventually won the game by three runs. They qualified without the number of sixes they hit coming into the picture.
The two teams met again in the finals, where St Kitts and Nevis Patriots won by three wickets.
