TRINIDAD: Sherfane Rutherford has rescued the West Indies with the bat and their bowlers contained New Zealand to complete a 13-run win in a Group C match of the T20 World Cup in Trinidad.
Rutherford’s unbeaten 68 off 39 balls lifted his side from the depths of 30 for five in the seventh over to a competitive 149 for 9 following they were put in by New Zealand captain Kane Williamson.
Thrashed in their first game by Afghanistan and therefore in a must-win situation, the Kiwis never developed any energy in the chase in being limited to just 136 for 9.
The defeat leaves Black Caps requiring a miracle to progress beyond the group stage. New Zealand will be eliminated if Afghanistan defeat Papua New Guinea on Thursday.
West Indies pacer Alzarri Joseph (4 for 19) and spinners Gudakesh Motie (3 for 25) and Akeal Hosein (1 for 21) kept the home side in control to seal their third consecutive win and a position in the Super Eight stage of the competition with one group match still to come against Afghanistan on Monday.
Only Glenn Phillips caused any real worries for the West Indies but when he fell to Joseph in the 18th over the match was successfully over as a competition, despite Mitchell Santner belting three sixes off Romario Shepherd in the final over.
