Rutherford using “heartbreak” as learning experience

By Akeem Greene

Being run out one shy of a maiden List A half-century which essentially dashed Guyana Jaguars’ hopes of reaching the 2018 Regional Super50 final are two heart wrenching experiences Sherfane Rutherford plan on remembering for years to come. However, he plans on using it as a fuel to reap success.
After soaring to the top of their group, Jaguars suffered a 52-run defeated via D/L method to eventual champions Windward Islands Volcanoes due to a meek performance with the bat on Thursday at the Coolidge Cricket ground.
It was the first time in three years, the four-day powerhouses reached the semi-finals and for the 19 year-old it was one of the most disappointing experiences of his blossoming career.

“It was very disappointed losing at that stage because it was a crucial time of the tournament and the run-chase was not that big but I still think we tried our best as a team and it’s just for us to learn fast and improve in those situations when it arises,” the all-rounder expressed to Guyana Times Sport on returning home from Antigua.
Scoring 163 runs at an average of 32.60; strike rate was 90.05 and taking four wickets in his first List A season, he reflected on the tournament as decent given the calibre of the players who competed.

“I think it was a pretty decent tournament; the experience was good knowing that I came against some good teams who had top players. Playing in front of the large crowds was a bit nervous at first but I became more comfortable as the tournament progressed.”
Though wickets were tumbling in clatters during the final, the flamboyant left-handed batsman looked assured at the crease and waged a fight back in the late hour with Veerasammy Permaul via a brisk eight-wicket partnership which gave a glimmer of hope.
According to the Demerara Cricket Club cricketer, he wanted a stable partner so he can launch a counter-attack.
“I just told the guys at the other end to stick around, look to tick it over and I will take the chances to win the match because I was already set at the crease.”
Now with full exposure to the rigours of regional cricket and given his commendable run in the preceding four-day championship, the man from Enmore thinks he is ready for a long stay at the top. “I think I can handle it there because at the end of the day it is all cricket and that was what I was engaged in day after day to get here. Now that I am here it shouldn’t change and so I am ready for whatever is thrown at me.”
He added, “Since I got into the senior set up, players like Permaul, [Chandrapaul] Hemraj and [Christopher] Barnwell always around me showing me ways I can improve and also it couldn’t be possible without the Almighty so I want to thank him too for good health and strength.”
With a break regional cricket until the Hero Caribbean Premier League in August, Rutherford hopes the praiseworthy season is good enough to get him a stint with one of the franchises in the “Biggest Party in Sport.”
Until then he plans on working rigorously on his fitness and ways to improve his technique for the 2018-19 season which is expected to commence in October.