Rutherford, Motie keep Tridents perfect

GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia (CMC):

Sherfane Rutherford’s player-of-the-match performance propelled the Barbados Tridents to a nine-run victory over the St Lucia Kings in their rain-affected Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League contest on Sunday.

In a match reduced to 18 overs per side after persistent showers delayed the start by more than an hour, Rutherford’s explosive 61 off 31 balls revived the Tridents’ innings in the closing stages and helped them post a formidable 177 for five at the Daren Sammy National Stadium.

The home side threatened for much of the chase, but Gudakesh Motie’s three-wicket haul swung the momentum in favour of the visitors and helped restrict the Kings to 168 for seven.

Sent in to bat, the Tridents suffered an early setback when opener Zachary Carter fell for two. However, Brandon King and Quinton de Kock added 56 runs for the second wicket to carry the score to 63 for one inside six overs.

Even after Roston Chase removed de Kock for a brisk 38 off 15 balls and King for 39 from 28 deliveries, the Tridents remained well placed at 90 for three in the 10th over.

Rutherford began cautiously before launching an assault on the bowling, striking Chase for a six and a four off consecutive deliveries in the 12th over.

At the other end, Rivaldo Clarke struggled to find fluency, resulting in the Tridents moving to 119 for three after 14 overs.

Rutherford then took control, smashing Matthew Forde for two sixes in the following over before hammering Khari Campbell for successive sixes in the 17th over, the second of which brought up his half-century from 27 balls.

Shadley van Schalkwyk eventually dismissed Rutherford in the final over after he struck five sixes and three fours. He also removed Clarke, who made a laborious 23 off 27 balls, two deliveries later. However, captain Chris Green ended the innings in style by launching the final ball for six.

The Kings were given a solid foundation by openers Johann Jeremiah and Chase, who added 41 runs while scoring at almost 10 runs per over.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman broke the partnership by having Jeremiah caught for 11 before Motie bowled Chase for 34 off 21 balls to leave the score at 59 for two after six overs.

The Kings suffered a setback when Jewel Andrew was forced to retire hurt with an injury to his right thigh, but Akeem Auguste and Charith Asalanka repaired the innings with a 55-run, third-wicket partnership.

Auguste blasted Green for two sixes and a four in the ninth over and brought up his half-century from 28 balls by striking pacer Ramon Simmonds for consecutive sixes in the 12th over, which yielded 20 runs.

However, Ur Rahman’s dismissal of Asalanka for eight stalled the chase. Motie then returned to bowl Auguste for the top score of 63 off 34 balls, including six sixes and three fours, and also removed van Schalkwyk as the Kings slipped to 134 for five in the 16th over.

Needing 44 runs from the final two overs, Matthew Forde battled with an unbeaten 24 off 17 balls, but it was not enough to prevent the home side from slipping to a second defeat in four matches.

Motie ended with figures of three for 22, while Ur Rahman claimed two for 27 as the Tridents secured their second successive victory and climbed to the top of the standings.