(CMC) – Man-of-the-Match Sherfane Rutherford’s rapid half-century helped leaders Desert Vipers sink Dubai Capitals by 22 yesterday, leaving the Rovman Powell-led side’s hopes of making the playoffs hanging by a string.
The left-handed Rutherford, who has not featured for West Indies in two years, struck exactly 50 from 23 balls as Vipers rallied to 182 for seven from their 20 overs at Dubai International Stadium. Englishman Sam Billings top-scored with a more measured 54 from 48 deliveries while opener Robin Mustafa chipped in with 31 from 21 balls.
In reply, Capitals were limited to 160 for seven with Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza top-scoring with 41 from 32 deliveries and Powell lashing 33 from 25 balls. Opener Robin Uthappa punched 30 from 21 balls but the innings lacked the momentum to overhaul the challenging total. With the victory, Vipers moved to 14 points and guaranteed themselves of a top two finish while Capitals remained one from bottom of the six-team league on seven points, following their fifth defeat in nine outings. Sent in, Vipers were struggling on 45 for three in the sixth over before Billings led the recovery, adding 31 for the fourth wicket with Hasaranga de Silva (14) and a further 80 with Rutherford for the fifth wicket. Billings struck four fours and a six while the 24-year-old Rutherford traded only in sixes, lashing half-dozen off them. Both perished in successive overs before Sam Curran belted two sixes in a nine-ball 17 towards the end. Facing a stiff run chase, Capitals lost George Munsey without scoring at 11 for one in the second over, bowled leg-stump by West Indies left-arm speedster Sheldon Cottrell (2-36). However, Raza propped up the innings, first in a 31-run partnership with Uthappa and then in a third wicket stand of 46 with Dasun Shanaka (11) before things fell apart, four wickets tumbling for 30 runs in the space of 23 deliveries with Rutherford pouching two catches.
Powell tried to rescue the chase with three sixes and a brace of sixes, as he inspired a 28-run, seventh wicket partnership with Australian Adam Zampa (14 not out).
The Jamaican’s demise in the penultimate over, bowled by left-arm seamer Luke Wood (2-36) with 37 runs required from nine balls, left Capitals with too tall an order.