T20 World Cup 2024: 'His Innings Was World Class': NZ's Kane Willliamson Praises Windies Star Sherfane Rutherford

T20 World Cup 2024: New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson was full of praise for West Indies' Sherfane Rutherford, and labelled his innings as 'world class'. Here are the details.

New Zealand are all but out of the T20 World Cup 2024 after their defeat to West Indies

T20 World Cup 2024: New Zealand legend Kane Williamson has lauded the West Indies batter Sherfane Rutherford's innings of unbeaten 68 off 39 balls during the T20 World Cup 2024 Group Stage fixture of West Indies Vs New Zealand, as the latter's heroics proved to be the ultimate difference in the hosts' famous 13-run victory over the Kiwis. With the win, West Indies are now through to the 'Super 8'.

West Indies pull off an incredible win against New Zealand in Trinidad to book their place in the second round of #T20WorldCup 2024 👏 #WIvNZ | 📝: https://t.co/fFLN48Dsx6 pic.twitter.com/HLeJaojLoo

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) June 13, 2024

Kane Williamson explains the contentious call made during New Zealand's second successive Men's #T20WorldCup 2024 loss 👀#WIvNZhttps://t.co/hFJg5RvKQN

— ICC (@ICC) June 13, 2024

 

Kane Williamson Explains His Decision Of Bowling Out Main Bowlers Before 19th Over

“We knew that we needed to get Rutherford out and I think the batting depth of the West Indies side really shone through as beneficial for them, certainly today on that surface. So, for us to try and take that wicket and try and have the opportunity to sort of restrict them in that 120 region, I think it was worth doing but didn't quite pay off. I think whatever overs that they did bowl were going to be targeted and so that's the sort of the margins that you're always dealing with. I think, in T20 cricket nowadays with teams that are batting a lot deeper. And so, you're always trying to sort of play that game of cat and mouse, I suppose,” said Kane Williamson, whose decision to bowl out his main bowlers inside 18 overs proved to be a mistake.

"From 90/7, whatever the West Indies were, to get to 150 was a fantastic effort and incredibly smart and calculated batting from Rutherford. To put a contribution like that up on that surface was world-class and really got them a strong total on that wicket. Having said that, it's half a match and we know that we need to do some tough work in that second innings and try and get an over or two that you can try and break the game open. We weren't able to do that. We knew it would be tough and I thought the guys fought hard. But the West Indies know these conditions well and they're playing good cricket and unfortunately, like I say, it wasn't to be today,” he added.