West Indies cricketer Sherfane Rutherford made history on Sunday at the Zayed Cricket Stadium by smashing the first-ever century for the Northern Warriors in the tournament. The right-handed batter scored an unbeaten 103 runs off just 40 balls, hitting 10 sixes and seven fours, helping his team to a total of 142/4 in 20 overs.
This stunning knock set a new record for the highest individual score in the tournament, surpassing Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s previous score of 96 runs. It was also only the second century in T10 cricket history, following George Munsey’s century in the Zim-Afro T10 tournament earlier this year in Harare.
Speaking about his incredible innings, the 26-year-old said, “I am very thankful for the opportunity. Coming into the tournament, I’ve been working on my game, and the hard work is showing now. I just focused on backing myself, staying in the best position, and things went well for me.”
UP Nawabs Clinch Victory Despite Rutherford’s Heroics
Despite Rutherford’s brilliant performance, the Northern Warriors couldn’t secure a win. UP Nawabs’ batters Rahmanullah Gurbaz (44* off 23 balls) and Andre Fletcher (75* off 27 balls) chased down the target with ease, finishing the game with 9 wickets in hand and 5 balls to spare.
On the match result, Rutherford acknowledged the opposition’s strong batting and shared his thoughts: “At the end of the day, it’s cricket. The UP Nawabs batted well credit goes to them. Our fielding let us down, but it’s all part of the game. As professionals, we need to accept this and come back stronger.”
Practice Pays Off for Rutherford
Rutherford credited his preparation in the nets for his outstanding performance. He explained, “Before the game, I was hitting balls in the nets. That gave me the little momentum I needed. When I went to the crease, I just focused on getting into good positions and giving it my best shot.”
He also emphasized the importance of playing naturally: “I perform best when I play my natural game without overthinking. I looked to play each ball on its merit and gave myself the best chance to succeed.”
Looking Ahead
The Northern Warriors will next face the Bangla Tigers on November 26. Rutherford shared his immediate plans, saying, “I’m not a golfer, so with an off day tomorrow, I’ll focus on getting as much rest as possible.”
