The 23-year-old left-hander was out shortly before the break, having whacked 162 from 187 deliveries.
But any disappointment was short-lived, because he got a call from Black Caps coach Mike Hesson and national selection manager Kim Littlejohn advising him he had been named in the Black Caps twenty/20 squad.
His fine innings helped Otago reach 319 in reply to Northern Districts first innings total of 217 in their Plunket Shield match.
At stumps, on day two at the Queenstown Events Centre, Northern was 141 for three in its second innings, nursing a small lead of 39 runs.
Ian Butler, who has been recalled to the Black Caps twenty/20 side, was in wicket-taking mode again. He has taken two for 17 in Northern's second innings, to go with the six he took in the first innings.
Otago resumed on 135 for two. Rutherford was unbeaten on 82 and Neil Broom on 16.
Broom was the victim of some rotten luck when he was run out on 42. Rutherford cracked a drive and the bowler got a deflection on to the stumps.
It brought a fine partnership of 149 to an unfortunate end. At 239 for three, Otago was well-placed to push on for a big lead, but Northern Districts rallied and Brent Arnel picked up four wickets to help restrict Otago's first innings lead to 102 runs.
