ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sherfane Rutherford’s unbeaten half-century coupled with a memorable bowling performance from the West Indies bowlers led them to a 13-run win over perennial contender New Zealand in the ICC T20 World Cup last evening. After losing the toss and being sent into bat at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Rovman Powell and his West Indies batters contrived to put together their worst batting performance in recent memory inside the first 7 overs, finding themselves at 32/5. Johnson Charles looked at sea against Trent Boult in the opening over and chopped the last ball of the over on to his stumps for a duck to open the cracks in the West Indian innings.
By the time the powerplay had finished, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Roston Chase, and Brandon King had all departed. Despite that quandary, Sherfane Rutherford and Akeal Hosein dragged things back and steadied the ship, taking their side to 58 before Hosein was dismissed for 15 at the end of the 11th over. Rutherford and Romario Shepherd then combined for an invaluable seventh-wicket partnership of 27.
However, when Shepherd was trapped LBW for a run-a-ball 13, the West Indies looked in danger of being bowled out at 103/8 in the 17th over. Alzarri Joseph joined Rutherford but would not stay long, departing at the end of the 18th. Rutherford then took on Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Santner in the last two overs, plundering 37 runs and bringing up his maiden T20 World Cup half century in the process to pu.
