Latest update April 4th, 2025 12:14 AM
Rutherford happy to bat up the order for Patriots
Aims to use CPL to make West Indies W/Cup squad
By Sean Devers
On Thursday at the Warner Park in St Kitts, Guyanese Sherfane Rutherford made an auspicious debut for host St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the first round of the 2021 CPL, scoring a magnificent 53 against defending champions Barbados Royals.
Sherfane says his mom Karen Rutherford is his inspiration.
The left-hander followed up his Man-of-the-Match performance in the opening round with 14, batting at three against the Guyana Amazon Warriors, a team he had represented 27 times before he was bought by the Patriots for the ninth edition of the CPL
Although he has scored three fifties with a highest score of 93 and taken 33 wickets with a best 6-32 from 17 First-Class matches, Rutherford is regarded as a T20 globe trotter.
Rutherford, who turned 23 on August 15, hails from the East Coast Demerara Village of Enmore and has played six T20 Internationals for the West Indies.
However, the pugnacious batsman has played for nine different T20 Franchise and West Indies, in his 63 T20 games.
Now playing his first CPL season for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Rutherford, who is 42 runs away from reaching a 1,000 runs from 63T20 matches, has also represented Peshawar Zalmi, Delhi Bulls, Karachi Kings, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Sylhet Thunder, Delhi Capitals and Bengal Tigers.
Rutherford spoke about his short time with the Patriots, being allowed to bat up the order, the state of the pitch in his debut fifty and his desire to play in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Rutherford arrived in St Kitts on August 16 after playing in the minor leagues in New York.
“I have been living and playing cricket in New York and it really helped me since there is no cricket being played in Guyana due to the Covid-19 pandemic and rain.
The Covid protocols here are not too bad….in this bubble it’s same as always, wear a mask, sanitize regularly and social distance,” said Rutherford, who made his T20I debut against Bangladesh on December 22, 2018 after being the leading run-scorer in the 2018 Global T20 tournament in Canada for the West Indies B Team.
Rutherford explained how he approached his well-constructed 53 which lasted 43 balls and was decorated with two fours and four sixes.
Rutherford pulls during his 53 on debut for the Patriots against defending champs Barbados Royals. (Getty Images)
“I was given the opportunity to bat early and my mind set was always to take it deep. The pitch was not one that you could go and play shots from early….it had a bit of bounce and pace, you had to give yourself a few balls to get in and pick the balls to hit. That was one thing that I stood with throughout that innings,” said Rutherford.“If selected for the World Cup I would defiantly be available…it’s my dream. I always want to play in a World Cup…my parents, especially my mom Karen Rutherford, have always been my inspiration and would love to see me play in a World Cup.
I don’t set goals but I play hard cricket and try to be successful to help my team win and if I am selected for the World Cup I would grab it with both hands and try my best to be successful to help West Indies defend the title,” added Rutherford.
Rutherford, who played his last T20 game for the West Indies in January 2020 against Ireland, said moving to a new franchise takes a bit of time to get to know each other.
“However, with St Kitts it was faster than any other franchise I have been in because most of the guys know me including the Skipper. Reyad Emrit is like a mentor to me and encourages me so I am settling in very fast and feeling comfortable. It’s like home for me now,” disclosed Rutherford.
He feels the strength of the Patriots is its experienced players and feels they will play a key part for the side this year as the tournament progress.
“Bravo, Gayle, Evin Lewis, Cottrell, Emrit…these are seasoned guys. Having so many seasoned guys makes it a lot easier for us the young and upcoming players. That’s the standout for me and the strength of our team,” concluded the attacking batsman and excellent fielder.
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots defeated the Warriors yesterday in their second match in a row.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
A coalition of shared disgrace
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- The APNU and the AFC deserve each other. They deserve to be shackled together in a coalition... more
The U.S. “Joining” the Commonwealth: an unreasonable expectation
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- Recent media stories have suggested that King Charles III could “invite” the United... more
Weekend Cartoon
