- Lockie Ferguson had a day out at T20 World Cup
- Kiwi quick snared figures of 4/0 from three overs
- Second player to bowl 24 dot balls in T20 international
- Canada’s Saad Bin Zafar also achieved the feat in 2021
Kiwi fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has become just the second cricketer to bowl four maidens in a men’s T20 international – achieving the impressive feat during New Zealand’s World Cup clash against Papua New Guinea.
Ferguson, 33, finished with the astonishing figures of 3/0 from his four overs, as the Black Caps bowled the minnows for 78 at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba.
It ensured New Zealand finished their underwhelming T20 World Cup campaign on a positive note after failing to qualify for the Super Eights stage.
‘It was a tough wicket to bat on,’ a modest Ferguson said post match.
‘There aren’t many games when I just bowl seam up the whole way through. The pitch offered lots of assistance.
Kiwi fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has become just the second cricketer to bowl four maiden overs in a men’s T20 international
Ferguson achieved the impressive feat during New Zealand’s T20 World Cup clash against Papua New Guinea (pictured middle, celebrating a wicket with teammates)
Post match, a modest Ferguson declared ‘the pitch offered lots of assistance’ (pictured, his stunning figures on the big screen)
‘It’s nice to get the win, but unfortunate to be heading home.
‘We have felt like we bowled pretty well, but losing to Afghanistan and West Indies ruined our World Cup.’
Remarkably, Ferguson isn’t the first cricketer to bowl 24 consecutive dot balls in an international T20 fixture.
Canada’s Saad Bin Zafar achieved the rare feat in 2021, when he snared two wickets for no runs in four overs against Panama.
Besides Ferguson’s heroics, fellow Kiwi quicks Tim Southee took 2-11 and Trent Boult 2-14 – in what could be the veteran left-arm paceman’s final international appearance.
‘Gutted to not go any further, but I’m very proud of what I’ve done with the Black Caps and sad it’s my last day with New Zealand,’ Boult said.
When pressed on whether it was his last game for New Zealand in all formats, he added: ‘I haven’t thought much further than this.
‘I’m in no position to comment right now. I enjoyed being out there one last time.’
New Zealand finished third in Group C behind the West Indies and Afghanistan, while PNG were winless in their maiden T20 World Cup appearance.
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