Sherfane Rutherford and Fabian Allen supercharge unbeaten Patriots

Sherfane Rutherford's outstanding CPL continued with another matchwinning hand as he and Fabian Allen turned what appeared a challenging chase into a canter to maintain St Kitts and Nevis Patriots' unbeaten start to the tournament.

On a night where a number of batters couldn't cash in on starts - Carlos Brathwaite's 27 was the top score for Jamaica Tallawahs - Rutherford's became the decisive hand. His stand of 55 in just 20 balls with Allen took control of what was a 50-50 chase when Ravi Bopara departed to leave Patriots 114 for 4 in the 15th over.

With five overs to go, Patriots needed 50 when Allen helped take 17 off an Andre Russell over to turn the tide. Phil Simmons, the West Indies coach watching from the stands, would have been concerned to see Russell repeatedly flexing his leg.

The next over decided the contest when Rutherford took three sixes off Migael Pretorius - the second two coming after he got away with a spiraling top edge that substitute fielder Kirk McKenzie could not get underneath. Allen then sealed the match by taking the tally of sixes to six in the space of 14 balls.

Patriots had been quick out of the blocks but were hauled back when Devon Thomas edged to slip and the struggling Asif Ali was trapped in front. Evin Lewis, who was given a life on 24 by Tallawahs' stand-in wicketkeeper Kennar Lewis, was shaping to play the key innings before he top-edged off Rovman Powell.

Kennar Lewis had the gloves after Chadwick Walton suffered a hamstring injury during the first innings which forced him to retire hurt on 26 in the eighth over. It was around that period where Patriots had a strong hold over the scoring rate having initially gone for 34 off the opening three overs.

The next seven overs up to the halfway mark brought just 31 which included Dwayne Bravo, who had a fine evening with the ball, taking a neat one-handed return catch to remove Haider Ali.

Brathwaite provided an increase to the scoring rate but lost his off stump attempting to lap Sheldon Cottrell. This time there was no onslaught from Russell who toe-ended a short ball against the impressive Paul van Meekeren. Pretorius' 15 off five balls ensured 160 was in sight but in the end it proved well short of being enough.