• Sportzyverse
• T20 World Cup 2024
• 06/17/2024
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Lockie Ferguson achieved a historic milestone in New Zealand’s final match of the T20 World Cup campaign on Monday, delivering an extraordinary spell against Papua New Guinea. Ferguson bowled four consecutive maiden overs, claiming three crucial wickets and becoming the first player in the tournament’s history to accomplish this remarkable feat.

A Spell for the Ages

Ferguson was introduced into the attack in the fifth over of PNG’s innings after Kane Williamson opted to bowl in the rain-delayed match in Tarouba. Right from his first ball, Ferguson made an impact, dismissing PNG captain Assad Vala for 6. His pace and precision proved too much for the PNG batters, who struggled to find their footing against the superior New Zealand bowling attack.

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Continuing his spell after the Powerplay, Ferguson bowled another maiden over to Sese Bau, skillfully mixing his lengths to keep the batters guessing. His relentless accuracy and speed created immense pressure on the PNG lineup.

Ferguson’s dominance was further highlighted when he returned for his third over in the 12th, instantly making an impact by dismissing Charles Amini for 17 on his second delivery. By the time he bowled his fourth over, his control and effectiveness were on full display. Although two runs were scored off the third ball of this over, they were leg-byes and did not count against his figures. He completed his spell by bowling a fourth maiden over and claiming the wicket of Chad Soper for 1, cementing his place in the record books.

Joining Elite Company

With this performance, Ferguson became only the second bowler in T20I history to bowl four maiden overs in a match. The first to achieve this was Canada’s Saad Bin Zafar, who accomplished the feat during a T20 World Cup qualifier against Panama, taking two wickets in the process. Ferguson, however, surpassed this record with his three dismissals, adding an extra layer of distinction to his historic achievement.

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Despite Ferguson’s heroics, New Zealand’s overall campaign in the T20 World Cup was disappointing. The Kane Williamson-led team faced early elimination after defeats to Afghanistan and West Indies in their group-stage matches. These losses ensured that the Kiwis would not progress to the tournament’s knockout stages.

Adding to the team’s challenges, leading pacer Trent Boult announced his retirement from T20Is following the World Cup, marking the end of an era for New Zealand cricket.

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Ferguson’s record-breaking spell against PNG was a bright spot in an otherwise lacklustre tournament for New Zealand. His performance showcased his exceptional talent and set a new benchmark in T20I cricket. As the cricketing world continues to celebrate such outstanding individual achievements, fans will undoubtedly look forward to more thrilling moments in the future.