DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Sherfane Rutherford struck a late cameo as his Desert Vipers upset the Nicholas Pooran-led leaders MI Emirates by two wickets off the last ball in the ILT20 here yesterday. In pursuit of 150 at Dubai International Stadium, Vipers found themselves in dire straits at 28 for four in the sixth over before recovering through help from the left-handed Rutherford who top-scored with 35 from 22 deliveries.
Wanindu Hasaranga chipped in with 26 and Azam Khan got 20 but it was number 10 Shahid Shah Afridi (17 not out) who emerged the final over hero.
With three runs needed from the final delivery, Afridi sliced the final ball of the game from pacer Trent Boult to deep backward point and scurried the required runs with Mark Wood (six not out).
Earlier, Emirates rallied to 149 for nine off their 20 overs after being sent in, with Tim David (28), Akeal Hosein (24) and Ambati Rayudu (23) all leading the scoring. The West Indies trio of Andre Fletcher (18), Pooran (17) and Dwayne Bravo (10 not out) made little impression as seamer Mohammad Amir (3-26) inspired Vipers. Kusal Perera fell to the second ball of the game without a run on the board but Fletcher and Muhammad Waseem (17) put on 33 for the second wicket to steady Emirates.
When the innings slipped to 58 for four in the eighth over, Hosein and Rayudu put on a valuable 49 for the fifth wicket before David and Bravo added a further 37 for the seventh wicket, to stage a recovery.
With the Vipers run chase floundering, Hasaranga and Azam Khan posted 34 for the fifth wicket before Rutherford arrived at number eight to lash five fours and a six, in a 29-run, eighth wicket stand with Afridi, to give his side the edge.
Emirates top the standings with eight points while Vipers are one from bottom on four points.
