BASSETERRE: A stunning maiden century from Sherfane Rutherford propelled West Indies to a thrilling five-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first ODI match at Warner Park on Sunday.
Rutherford’s mighty 113 off 80 balls, which included seven fours and eight sixes, guided the West Indies to chase down Bangladesh’s total of 294/6, leaving them just seven runs short of the most successful chase ever at the venue.
The 26-year-old, who played just his 10th ODI, was named Man of the Match for his remarkable contribution.
He joined the West Indies group at 94/3, still needing 200 runs to secure victory.
Rutherford quickly found his rhythm, putting together a crucial 99-run partnership for the fourth wicket with captain Shai Hope, who contributed an important 86 from 88 balls.
However, after Hope’s departure, Rutherford continued his attack, adding 95 for the sixth wicket with Justin Greaves, who remained unbeaten on 41.
His aggressive knock took West Indies to 295/5 in just 47.4 overs, securing victory with more than two overs to spare.
Speaking about his performance, Hope praised his teammate’s growth with the bat: “I think he’s really improved his batting.”
“We ask for consistency, we always talk about it and he is showing it. He hits really well and the hard work is paying off in the middle. He was disappointed not to finish the game,” he added.
Earlier in the day, Bangladesh opted to bat after winning the toss and got off to a solid start with wicketkeeper Tanzid Hasan scoring 60 and captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz contributing 74.
Mahmudullah (50 not out) and Jaker Ali (48) built a 96-run partnership for the sixth wicket, but their efforts were not enough to thwart Rutherford’s brilliance.
The hosts currently lead the three-match ODI series 1-0, with the second match scheduled for Basseterre on December 10, 2024.
