Rutherford happy with all-round performance in SA T20 League

Guyana and West Indies cricketer Sherfane Rutherford made a bold statement by picking his career-best bowling figures of 4-24 and slamming an unbeaten 47 in match eight of the South Africa T20 League.
The 27-year-old, who is primarily a batsman for teams around the world, said his coach saw some potential with the ball in his hand and decided he should bowl a few overs. He proved his potential by dismissing four recognised South Africans playing for the star-studded Mumbai Cape Town.
Rutherford removed batsman Reeza Hendricks, all-rounders George Linde and Dwaine Pretorius, and bowler Kagiso Rabada.
With the bat, Rutherford demolished Pretorius, attacking Corbin Bosch and Rabada on his way to a 15-ball unbeaten 47, an innings laced with six maximums.
“Yeah, first of all, I want to thank God for this opportunity. It’s a beautiful place to be, a great tournament. I think what was important for me in this game was my process. I know the situation is always going to have its scenarios, but I think it’s important for me to do the basics and get myself in, and I know once I’m in, I can always make up for it in the end. (How long does it take to get going?) I think it depends on the overs. Tonight, I had five overs remaining when I came in. So, I told myself, ‘Even if I give myself six or seven balls, in the last three overs we can capitalise’,” Rutherford said.

He added, “We weren’t expecting to get 92 in the last five, but I think it really went well for us. (On batting with Brevis) I think we play together; we have a good relationship. And I think the conversation was just to keep reacting. They’re going to try to manipulate us with the field, but I think the conversation was just wherever the ball is, hit it; it’s going to travel. And I think we just kept our shape, and it went well for us. (On his bowling) I definitely didn’t plan on bowling. When I came to this tournament, I never thought of bowling. You know, the coach told me he saw that there was some sort of potential to give him two overs. So, I think they saw something that I didn’t see.”
Rutherford is playing for the Pretoria Capitals, and his West Indies captain, Shai Hope, is his teammate at the ongoing SA T20 League. His Player of the Match performance led his team to their first win of the season.
The tournament will conclude on January 25, 2026.