Group C Match, Trinidad & Tobago
In a T20 World Cup Group C match held in Trinidad & Tobago, New Zealand decisively defeated Papua New Guinea by seven wickets. This match, which held little significance for the tournament’s progression as both teams were already eliminated, was notable for Lockie Ferguson's exceptional bowling performance.
Papua New Guinea struggled against New Zealand’s bowling attack and were all out for a mere 78 runs in 19.4 overs. Lockie Ferguson, bowling at speeds exceeding 90mph, became the first player in T20 World Cup history to deliver four consecutive maidens. This achievement made him only the second bowler in men’s T20 internationals to accomplish this feat, after Canada's Saad Bin Zafar.
Ferguson’s precise and relentless bowling dismantled the PNG batting order. He dismissed the opposition's captain, Assad Vala, who was caught by Daryl Mitchell at wide slip off his first ball. He then trapped Charles Amini lbw on review and bowled Chad Soper. Despite two leg byes off Kiplin Doriga’s pad in Ferguson's final over, his spell ended with extraordinary figures of 4-4-0-3.
Trent Boult, possibly playing his last match for New Zealand, provided strong support with his left-arm pace, capturing 2-14. This collective bowling effort restricted PNG to a modest total on a pitch that proved difficult to bat on.
In response, New Zealand cautiously approached their chase, mindful of the unpredictable bounce of the surface. Finn Allen was dismissed on the second ball of the innings, under-edging a delivery that stayed low. Rachin Ravindra was caught on the leg side, and Devon Conway, who led the scoring with 35 off 32 balls, was eventually lbw to Semo Kamea after hitting three sixes.
Despite these setbacks, Conway’s contributions laid a solid foundation for New Zealand. Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell ensured there were no further hiccups, guiding their team to victory in 12.2 overs, achieving a score of 79-3.
New Zealand’s win was executed with nearly eight overs remaining, securing them a third-place finish in Group C. Afghanistan and co-hosts West Indies, who have already secured their spots in the Super 8s, sit above them. The final game of the group stage will see these two teams face off.
Although this match was delayed by an hour due to rain and had little impact on the tournament’s outcome, Ferguson’s blistering pace and control left a lasting impression. He effectively subdued the inexperienced PNG batting line up, marking this encounter as a memorable one for his remarkable bowling display.