GUYANA and West Indies cricketer Sherfane Rutherford slammed an unbeaten half-century to lead 22Yards Sultan Cricket Club to the Division A final of the US Open T20 Cricket competition, yesterday afternoon, at Central Broward Regional Park in Florida.

Somerset Cavaliers were favourites for the clash, given that they were defending champions and had marched into the final four with a flawless run in Group A.

After winning the toss, 22Yards, who had finished second in Group B, opted to field and it proved to be the right call.

National cricketer Chandrapaul Hemraj, who had scores of 50, 43 and 87 in his first three games was key for Cavaliers, but he was unable to dominate.

His opening partner Kennard Lewis played a few shots, but he fell for 41 runs from 31 balls (3×4, 4×6).

Hemraj struck a single six in his score of 10 from 17 balls before he was caught by Rutherford off the bowling of Jasdeep Singh.

Guyanese bowlers Ashmead Nedd and Devendra Bishoo then cleaned up the middle order.  Bishoo, who played in all formats of the game for the West Indies, was able to bowl fellow Windies cricketer Andre Russell for eight runs (10 balls).

Cavaliers were given a boost after Shawn Findley slammed an unbeaten 41 runs from 28 balls batting at eight, which helped to push the side to 132-8 from their allotted overs.

Nedd was the pick of the bowlers after he spun his way to 2-17 from his four overs, while Bishoo finished with 2-31 from four overs and fellow Guyanese Kevin Sinclair with 1-30 from his four overs.

In reply, Trevon Griffith scored 16 (3×4) early, but it was fellow-Guyanese Rutherford and Jamaican cricketer Andre McCarthy who batted their side to victory.

The pair added 108 for the third-wicket partnership.

McCarthy was more watchful since he took 42 balls to reach his 35 (3x4s), while Rutherford belted five sixes and three fours in his 67 which came from 47 balls.

Victory was achieved in the penultimate over of the innings.

The five Guyanese who played for 22Yards yesterday were Rutherford, Bishoo, Sinclair, Nedd and Christopher Barnwell.