Sherfane Rutherford couldn’t hide his joy after the West Indies secured their spot in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup. The middle-order batter, however, emphasized that the team must continue to improve if they are to achieve their ultimate goal of reaching the final. The West Indies clinched a 13-run victory over New Zealand, advancing from Group C with an unblemished record of three wins in as many matches.
The T20 World Cup final is slated to take place in Bridgetown, Barbados on June 29, and Rutherford is determined for his team to be there. “It’s good to get the Q (qualified) in front of our name. Our aim is to play the last game of the tournament (final). So, we’re going to look to keep improving and keep getting better,” he stated in the post-match press conference.
Sherfane Rutherford played a pivotal role in the West Indies’ latest victory, scoring an unbeaten 68 off 39 balls, featuring two fours and six sixes. His innings was crucial in lifting the team from precarious positions of 76 for 7 and 112 for 9, ultimately leading them to a competitive total of 149 for 9. Given the context and significance, Rutherford regarded this knock as the best of his career.
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“I would put it as my best knock. It’s a World Cup, this is my dream. I always wanted to play in the World Cup. I always want to perform in the World Cup. I think this one’s going to stay close to my heart and hopefully I can continue to play good innings like this for my team and for myself,” he shared.
Despite the evident vulnerabilities in the West Indian top and middle order, Sherfane Rutherford remained optimistic. He stressed that it is crucial for different players to step up when needed, indicating a balanced team effort.
“We have been playing good cricket. There are good days and bad days, and one thing I learned is that a team that’s going to win any tournament, is going to have different players stepping up each time. I think for the past three games, it has been three different players. So, I’m not concerned because that’s what champion teams do,” he explained.
However, Sherfane Rutherford did pinpoint strike rotation as an area requiring improvement, especially considering the slow nature of the pitches. He emphasized the necessity of maintaining good intent and consistently rotating the strike to minimize pressure.
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“It’s something that we work hard on. We have our meetings about rotating strike. It’s a bit difficult in this tournament, I would say, so far because of the tough wickets. But as a team, our goal is to lessen that buzz. I think good intent is one thing that we spoke a lot about. And you’re going to see a lot of rotation from us,” Sherfane Rutherford concluded.
As the West Indies prepare for the next stage of the tournament, Rutherford’s performance and insights will be crucial for the team’s continued success. His confidence and determination are vital assets as the team aims for the championship.
