A 115-run fifth-wicket stand between Sherfane Rutherford (53 in 43 balls) and Dwayne Bravo (47* in 35) helped St Kitts and Nevis Patriots beat Barbados Royals by 21 runs in Match 2 of the 2021 Caribbean Premier League, at Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts.
Having been put into bat, St Kitts lost their top three – Evin Lewis (6), Devon Thomas (7), Chris Gayle (12) – inside the Powerplay. Asif Ali (8) was watchful initially, but did not last long either as St Kitts slumped to 39/4 in 7.1 overs.
Rutherford and Brave then revived St Kitts innings. After taking time to settle down, they smashed four sixes each to take the team to a decent total before Jason Holder bowled Rutherford in the penultimate over. Coming at No. 7, Fabian Allen (19* in 7) played a breezy cameo to take St Kitts to 175/5.
With 3-22, Oshane Thomas was the pick of the Barbados bowlers. Kyle Mayers (0-20) also bowled three tight overs, despite not picking up any wicket. The biggest disappointment of the contest was Hayden Walsh Jr, who conceded 25 in two overs.
Coming to the chase, Johnson Charles struck three fours in the first over to get Barbados off to a rousing start. But a casual display of running sent him back to dressing room in the next over. Glenn Phillips fell cheaply as well as Barbados lost both their openers inside 2.2 overs.
Holder (10) and Mayers (9) were watchful initially, but both failed to convert their starts into anything substantial. Barbados were down to 67/4 in 10.4 overs.
Shai Hope and Azam Khan then took charge from there, adding 37 in quick time before Sheldon Cottrell (4-1-39-2) got Hope to give St Kitts the much-needed breakthrough. Azam tried, but got little support from Thisara Perera (3) and Ashley Nurse (8*), and was run out in the 18th over.
Walsh made a quickfire 9-ball 16 not out, but it was not enough to get past the line. Barbados finished on 154/7.
Brief scores: St Kitts and Nevis Patriots 175/5 in 20 overs (Rutherford 53; Thomas 3-22) beat Barbados Royals 154/7 in 20 overs (Hope 44; Drakes 2-13) by 21 runs. Player of the Match: Sherfane Rutherford.