Worked hard on my game: Andre Russell

Port of Spain (Trinidad), Aug 23 (IANS/CMC) All-rounder Andre Russell says he cannot wait to line up with the Jamaica Tallawahs in their bid to make the final of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

The 25-year-old has emerged as the hero for the Kingston-based franchise, producing match-winning knocks and incisive spells to help reverse the fortunes of his side, at one stage in danger of not qualifying for the round of four.

"I've been working hard on my batting and bowling so I am not really surprised by form at the moment. I'm bowling good yorkers, I'm hitting the ball cleanly and I'm waiting for my type of balls to dispatch so I'm happy," Russell said.

"We've qualified for the semi-finals but we want to keep up that winning momentum so we just want to take it step by step."

Russell announced himself with a scintillating unbeaten 42, an innings which fired Tallawahs to a seven-wicket victory over Antigua Hawksbills, in their second match of the inaugural tournament.

In the next match against Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel, he snatched the two key wickets of Adrian Barath and skipper Dwayne Bravo at critical moments in the game, as the Tallawahs stole a narrow five-run win in the last over.

Subsequently, stroke-filled, unbeaten knocks of 47 and 27 also saw Tallawahs post important triumphs and Russell says his performances were testament to the determination he has shown since losing his spot in the West Indies team.

"I'm feeling good. I got dropped from the West Indies team but I know what I have to do and I know how important it is for me to work harder than everyone else," said Russell, who last played for West Indies on Zimbabwe's tour of the Caribbean in March.

"As an all-rounder, you have to be extra fit. I've been doing a lot of work. I've played in England for Worcestershire and I've been doing a lot of running and stuff like that," said Russell, who has played 34 One-Day Internationals and 15 Twenty20s for West Indies.

--IANS/CMC

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