New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea: Kiwis Dominate Dead Rubber Match
Lockie Ferguson’s Fiery Spell Makes History
The 39th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, played on June 17th at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad, was a dead rubber for both New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, having already been eliminated from the tournament. However, the Kiwis used the opportunity to showcase their bowling prowess, particularly Lockie Ferguson, who etched his name in cricket history.
New Zealand Elects to Bowl, Dismisses PNG for 78
New Zealand captain won the toss and opted to field first. Their decision proved to be a masterstroke as the Kiwi bowling attack ran riot through the PNG batting lineup. The collective effort bundled out Papua New Guinea for a meagre 78 runs in just 19.4 overs.
Lockie Ferguson Unleashes Beast Mode: Most Economical Spell in T20I History
While all the New Zealand bowlers displayed good form, the star of the show was undoubtedly Lockie Ferguson. The 33-year-old fast bowler turned on the heat, dismissing Assad Vala, Charles Amini, and Chad Soper in the 5th, 12th, and 14th overs respectively. But the most remarkable aspect of his spell was his exceptional control – he didn’t concede a single run in his entire 4-over quota!
This incredible feat saw Lockie Ferguson rewrite the record books. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
- Bowling Figures: 4-4-0-3
- Record: Most economical 4-over spell in T20 International history (T20I)
- Second Bowler in T20Is: He joins Saad Bin Zafar (2021) as the only other bowler to achieve this feat.
- Third Overall in T20s: Akshay Karnewar (2021) also holds the record in non-international T20s.
Ferguson’s spell was a masterclass in bowling accuracy and control. His bowling breakdown – a sequence of zeros interspersed with wickets – perfectly captures his dominance: W, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, W, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, W, 0, 0, 0, 0.
This record-breaking performance also established Lockie Ferguson as the holder of the most economical spell in T20 World Cup history, surpassing his teammate Tim Southee’s previous record.
Southee, Boult, and Others Join the Party
While Lockie Ferguson stole the limelight, other New Zealand bowlers also contributed significantly. Tim Southee, Trent Boult, and Ish Sodhi each picked up two wickets, while Mitchell Santner chipped in with one.
Despite the lack of tournament stakes, the Blackcaps bowlers displayed commendable determination. This could be their last T20 World Cup for some, with Trent Boult confirming his retirement from the format after the match.
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