West Indies Stun Bangladesh with Record-Breaking Chase Led by Rutherford's Ton

A spectacular innings from debutant Sherfane Rutherford propelled the West Indies to a thrilling five-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first one-day international in St Kitts, ending an 11-match losing streak against their arch-rivals.

Rutherford's stunning debut century, scoring 113 runs off just 80 balls, made him the fourth West Indian to achieve five consecutive 50+ scores in ODIs, following in the footsteps of cricket legends Gordon Greenidge, Chris Gayle, and Shai Hope. His powerhouse batting display, which included seven fours and eight sixes, enabled the team to narrow the 294-run target set by Bangladesh to just 7 runs and ultimately claim victory. The triumph was capped off with Rutherford being named Player of the Match.

Bangladesh's total was built on a strong foundation laid by skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Tanzid Hasan, who scored 74 and 60, respectively. Their respective efforts suggested that it might be a tough ask for the West Indies to chase down the impressive total. However, Rutherford had other plans. His fearless batting captured the imagination of the crowd at Warner Park, evoking memories of West Indies' triumphant days in international cricket.

Rutherford's record-breaking knock brought an end to a rough spell for the West Indies. In the previous 11 matches, Bangladesh consistently out-batted them, leaving fans concerned about the team's ongoing woes. However, Rutherford proved that the team still had it in them, given the platform to express themselves on the field. His heroic innings hinted that there might be more in store for West Indies' cricket in the coming days.

West Indies will head into their next international match, against New Zealand, after the convincing win. The victory will be a morale-boaster for the team, propelling them towards a fresh slate of challenges in the international arena. Will Rutherford's breakthrough performance set the tone for a heading brighter future? Only the competition can tell.