New Zealand star pacer Lockie Ferguson etched his name in the history of the game during Kiwi's clash against Papua New Guinea in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, New Zealand aimed to assert dominance early in the match, and Ferguson’s astonishing spell played a pivotal role in achieving that objective.
The match was played at Tarouba, Trinidad, where PNG struggled right from the outset. Facing a disciplined New Zealand bowling attack, Papua New Guinea managed to score a mere 78 runs before being bundled out in 19.4 overs. However, the standout highlight of the game was Ferguson’s magnificent bowling performance: four overs, four maidens, and not a single run conceded. This exceptional feat not only set a new record in the T20 World Cup history but also marked Ferguson as only the second bowler in international cricket, after Canada’s Saad Bin Zafar, to achieve this milestone.
Ferguson’s ability to consistently hit the right lines and lengths stifled Papua New Guinea's batters, leaving them struggling to score even a single run off his deliveries. The moment Ferguson completed his fourth maiden over, the entire New Zealand team erupted in celebration, acknowledging the rarity and brilliance of his achievement.
Brilliant collective bowling effort from New Zealand
Apart from Ferguson, Trent Boult and Tim Southee were also economical as Boult, who was playing his last T20I match, conceded only 14 runs while Southee conceded 11 runs. Both of the experienced pacers picked up 2 wickets each. However, the Kiwis are already out of the tournament with only 2 points in 3 matches.
This T20 World Cup has witnessed several remarkable bowling performances, but Ferguson’s feat stands tall. With that said, let’s take a look at some economical bowling performances in the ongoing T20 World Cup so far.
3/0 - Lockie Ferguson (NZ) vs PNG, Tarouba, 2024*
3/4 - Tim Southee (NZ) vs UGA, Tarouba, 2024
2/4 - Frank Nsubuga (UGA) vs PNG, Guyana, 2024
4/7 - Anrich Nortje (SA) vs SL, New York, 2024
2/7 - Trent Boult (NZ) vs UGA, Tarouba, 2024