Explosive Rutherford keeps Montreal Tigers unbeaten
TORONTO, Canada (CMC) – Sherfane Rutherford provided a timely reminder of his abundant talent with a stellar, unbeaten half-century as Montreal Tigers remained undefeated in the Global T20 Canada with a six-wicket win over Vancouver Knights here Tuesday.
In pursuit of 150, Tigers were slumping at 21 for three in the third over before the left-handed Rutherford arrived to blast an unbeaten 84 from 55 deliveries and take his side over the line with 11 balls to spare at CAA Centre.
Rutherford, who has not featured for West Indies in nearly four years, thumped seven fours and half-dozen sixes as he dominated a 46-run fourth-wicket stand with Dilpreet Singh (21), and an 86-run fifth-wicket partnership with Dipendra Singh Airee (22 not out).
Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman had earlier struck 73 from 53 deliveries, with seven fours and three sixes, as Knights rallied to 149 for four from their 20 overs.
Fakhar added exactly 50 for the second wicket with Harsh Thaker (9) before putting on 55 for the third wicket with Captain Rassie van der Dussen (26).
Former West Indies Captain Carlos Brathwaite helped remove Fakhar when he pouched the important catch in the 16th over, before accounting for van der Dussen in the 18th over, to finish with two for 20.
Left-arm spinner Fabian Allen (2-18), who has tumbled from the West Indies radar over the last 18 months, then crippled the Tigers’ run chase when he prised out Captain Chris Lynn (0) and opening partner Muhammad Waseem (1) in the first over.
And when Bangladesh star Shakib-al-Hasan perished for 12 the run chase was in danger of collapse.
However, Rutherford took charge for Tigers, racing to his seventh T20 fifty off 40 balls at the start of the 16th over by clearing the ropes with medium pacer Nawab Singh.
The 24-year-old Guyanese fittingly finished the game with a six off left-arm pacer Ruben Trumpelmann at the start of the penultimate over.