'Are you kidding': Bizarre Big Bash moment baffles cricket world

Gun West Indies recruit Andre Russell found himself at the centre of a bizarre incident in the Big Bash on Sunday night, before powering the Melbourne Stars home to a commanding win over the Sydney Thunder.

Russell's unbeaten 42 from 21 balls proved the difference as the Stars reeled in a target of 152 in 17.1 overs, with the bedazzling innings deserving a bigger crowd than 4314.

'EMBARRASSING': Cricket world stunned after 'catastrophic' Ashes failure

'VERY STRANGE': Shane Warne questions crucial Ashes decision

The superstar, forbidden from mingling with teammates as per stringent biosecurity protocols for the final day of his quarantine period imposed by Cricket Australia, epitomised what proved a topsy-turvy Sunday night.

Nothing highlighted that fact better than a moment in the 15th over when the big-hitting Windies icon looked to have fallen victim to Thunder spinner, Tanveer Sangha.

Russell tried to smash Sangha over the on-side boundary for six, but mistimed his shot and watched as the ball trickled back onto his middle stump.

Rather than walk back to the pavilion in disgust with himself, Russell was given the luckiest of lucky reprieves after the ball failed to dislodge the bails, despite rolling into the stumps.

It was one of those rare moments that happen from time to time in cricket, as viewers expressed their disbelief at the crazy scenes.

“What happened there? Tanveer Sangha can’t believe it,” former Australia allrounder Brendan Julian said on Fox Sports' coverage.

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

Sangha - who buried his head in his hands in disbelief at his misfortune - told reporters after the match that he still had no explanation.

“I couldn’t really believe it,” Sangha said.

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

Russell rode his luck again after going within a whisker of being caught on the rope when he belted the ball to Daniel Sams at the end of the 16th over, with the third umpire agonising over every angle before deeming it to be six rather than out.

Andre Russell rides luck in Stars' win

"I thought I was gone," Russell admitted after the Stars backed up Friday night's MCG thriller in style to make it consecutive wins over the Thunder.

"When I saw the catch, I was like 'wow, well done' ... but his body language was down (afterwards).

"As a fielder, if you're confident and you don't touch the rope then you're definitely going to get up, celebrate with your mates.

"It (the biosecurity restrictions) are a bit strange and weird ... but I'm not going to be too fussy about it, I'm happy to still be able to play cricket."

Earlier, Russell had been on the end of some brutal treatment from Alex Ross, who whacked three consecutive sixes off the allrounder while helping himself to 23 runs from a single over.

"That's the thing about being an allrounder ... you go for runs, you have a chance to make up for it," said the Jamaican.

Ross hit an unbeaten 77 to help the Thunder score 49 runs from their final three overs, fashioning a total that looked imposing when the Stars slipped to 2-32 after six overs.

Australia's Twenty20 World Cup heroes Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell steadied then shifted momentum in a 59-run stand, seizing control with a flurry of boundaries.

But plucky leg-spinner Sangha turned the match on its head yet again, removing Stoinis and Maxwell with consecutive balls in a double-wicket maiden of the highest calibre.

Unfortunately for the spinner, his heroics weren't quite enough as Russell blasted the Stars to an impressive win.

with AAP

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.