Rutherford, Motie power Tridents past Kings

GROS ISLET, St Lucia:

Sherfane Rutherford’s Player-of-the-Match performance helped Barbados Tridents outmuscle St Lucia Kings by nine runs in their rain-affected contest in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League T20 cricket competition on Sunday night.

In a match that was reduced to 18 overs per side after consistent showers delayed the start of play by over an hour, Rutherford’s superb 61 off 31 balls breathed life back into the Tridents’ innings in the latter stages, as they posted a formidable 177 for five at the Daren Sammy National Stadium.

The home side was looking threatening at one stage, until Motie’s three-wicket haul helped the visitors seize control, with his heroics allowing them to limit their opponents to 168 for seven.

After being sent in to bat, the Tridents suffered the early loss of opener Zachary Carter for just two, but Brandon King and Quinton de Kock’s 56-run partnership carried them to 63 for one inside six overs.

Even when Roston Chase accounted for the wickets of de Kock for a speedy 38 from 15 balls and King for 39 off 28 balls, the Tridents were still comfortably placed at 90 for three in the 10th over.

Rutherford began his innings cautiously before unleashing his fury, blasting Chase for a six and four off consecutive deliveries in the 12th over.

Shadley van Schalkwyk eventually claimed his wicket in the final over, after he pummeled five sixes and three fours, and he also had Rivaldo Clarke caught for a pedestrian 23 off 27 balls, before captain Chris Green ended the innings in fine style by hitting him for six off the last ball.

SOLID START

The Kings were given a solid start by openers Johann Jeremiah and Chase, with the two putting on 41 runs while scoring at almost 10 runs an 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 59 for two after six overs.

The Kings suffered a setback when Jewel Andrew was forced to retire hurt after picking up an injury to his right thigh, but Ackeem Auguste and Charith Asalanka put them back on track during a stand of 55 runs for the third wicket.

However, when Ur Rahman struck to dismiss Asalanka for eight, the Kings’ chase lost momentum with Motie returning to bowl Auguste for the top score of 63 off 34 balls, inclusive of six sixes and three fours, while also snaring the wicket of van Schalkwyk to see the Kings crumble to 134 for five in the 16th over.

Needing 44 runs from 12 balls, Matthew Forde tried his best in an unbeaten cameo of 24 off 17 balls, but it proved insufficient.