Super Sherfane Smashes Sixes for Success!!

Not all heroes wear capes but our hero was dawned in maroon sporting the number 68 and smashed 68 off 39 balls. Sherfane Rutherford was the hero that West indies needed when the West indies took on New Zealand in their all important first round group C match at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in south Trinidad. This was a must win game for both teams as victory would have sealed a Super 8 spot for the boys in maroon and if the black caps had won it would have increased their chances of staying in the tournament.

Captain Kane Williamson won the toss and put the West Indies in to bat first. The choice to bowl first looked like a stroke of genius as Trent Boult and Tim Southee rewarded the faith of their skipper and had the co-host reeling at 23/4. Given the build up and hype pre match this was not the start the home crowd was the expecting, it kept getting worst as James Neesham joined the attack and took out Brandon King who only could only muster 9 runs off 12 balls.

Next in to bat Sherfane Rutherford joining Akeal Hosein it was clear to see that Rutherford was put in to build a partnership with Hosein and take the momentum away from New Zealand. The partnership was looking good just before the drinks break and most people at that point would have settled for a total of 130. Neesham was put back into the attack after drinks and took out Hosein, the score read 58/6.

Russell came and went, Shepherd came and went, Joseph came and went. When the dust cleared it was down to Gudakesh Motie and Sherfane Rutherford to do something special with the score at 112/9 going into the penultimate over. Daryl Mitchell was put into the bowling attack, first ball no runs, second ball was dispatched for six runs, third ball another six runs. Rutherford could not dispatch the fourth ball yorker. Another six runs was added to the board on the fifth ball and the over was ended with a smartly taken single that ensured Rutherford stayed on strike, he also brought up his fifty which was met with great loud cheers from the home crowd.

Rutherford said in his press conference his captain told him to bat deep and bat deep he did, he steadied the ship and guided West Indies to a respectable total of 149 finishing with 68 runs and Motie only facing one ball with no score.

Rovman Powell and his team deserves the world of credit in the way they defended 149, the bowling strategy and rotation was perfectly executed, the fielding was not perfect but there was a high intensity in the way the the boundary was defended and the New Zealand batsmen were forced to run as much singles as possible even when it was not safe to attempt it.

The pitch played its part as there was no dominant display by New Zealand and wickets were falling at key intervals and pushed the momentum back to the West Indies. Akeal Hosein could not follow up his haul he had against Uganda but he did take a wicket and was very instrumental in slowing down the Kiwis and bowled a great spell with figures of 1/24. The pick of the batters were Finn Allen with 26 off 23 balls ,Glenn Phillips with 40 off 33 balls and Mitchell Santner with 21 off 12. Any hope that New Zealnd had of fighting back was short lived as Motie with figures of 3/24 partnered with Hosein in the bowling attack and was too clinical for the batsmen.

A match that involves the West Indies must have some nervous moments. Johnson Charles dropped a couple of catches, Roston Chase with a mistake in the field. There were three sixes in last over that was bowled by Romario Sheppard. Thankfully the West Indies secured a thirteen run victory that sees them book a spot in the Super 8.

Alzarri Joseph who was also excellent with the ball with figures of 4/19 said the team is focused and taking it one match at a time and shifting all their energy to the next the challenge in the form of Afghanistan. The West Indies would certainly need all hands at the pump for that encounter as Afghanistan is in fine form but the West Indies have responded perfectly to every challenged thrown at them so far.

With a deep battling line up and a diverse talented bowling attack the West Indies is clearly demonstrating they have what it takes to progress to the finals and make history as the first host nation to lift the T20 Cricket World Cup.