Rutherford, Motie shine in Tridents' narrow win

With 29 needed off the final over, Ramon Simmonds came under pressure after Matthew Forde smashed two fours and a six. He held his nerve, however, bowling a slower delivery on the fourth ball that forced Forde off strike. Joshua Bishop was dismissed off the fifth ball and, while Maheesh Theekshana struck a boundary off the final delivery, it was the Barbados Tridents who registered a nine-run winin a rain-curtailed 18-over contest at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St. Lucia.

Chasing 178 for victory, St Lucia Kings captain Roston Chase assumed the aggressor's role, striking four fours and two sixes after opening the batting once more. The Tridents hit back by dismissing both openers within the space of two overs following a 41-run opening stand. The Kings were dealt another blow when Jewel Andrew was forced to retire after injuring himself while attempting a quick single in the eighth over.

Ackeem Auguste kept the Kings in the game, striking a four and two sixes in the ninth over to ensure they did not lose momentum. He had little support at the other end as he contributed 45 in a 55-run stand with Charith Asalanka. Auguste brought up his fifty in the 12th over, striking three sixes off Simmonds, but was dismissed by Gudakesh Motie two overs later.

Just when the Tridents appeared to have the game under control, Daniel Sams struck Amari Goodridge for consecutive sixes in the penultimate over to keep the contest alive. While he was dismissed attempting a third blow, it set the stage for Forde in the final over.

Rain delayed the start and eventually reduced the game to 18 overs a side, after the Kings had opted to field. Zachary Carter fell early, but Brandon King and Quinton de Kock responded with a brutal 56-run stand. Captain Roston Chase later accounted for both batters, but the Kings had no answers to Sherfane Rutherford's assault.

Walking in at 90 for 3 in the 10th over, Rutherford slammed a 31-ball 61, striking three fours and five sixes. He tore into Forde first, backing up a boundary with two sixes, before bringing up his first CPL fifty in three years with consecutive sixes in the 17th over. While he was dismissed in the final over, a last-ball six from Chris Green meant that the Tridents finished with 177 for 5 in 18 overs.

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