The T20 World Cup 2024 witnessed an extraordinary display of bowling prowess as New Zealand bowled out Papua New Guinea for a mere 78 runs in a group stage match. This match, held at a prestigious venue, showcased New Zealand’s formidable bowling attack against Papua New Guinea’s struggling batting lineup.

Match Summary

New Zealand’s dominance began with their decision to field first after winning the toss. Led by the exceptional performance of Lockie Ferguson, the Kiwi bowlers wreaked havoc on Papua New Guinea’s batting order.

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Ferguson, in a spell that etched his name in World Cup history, bowled 24 dot balls and conceded no runs while also claiming three crucial wickets. His economy rate in the match was unmatched, setting a new benchmark in T20 cricket.

New Zealand’s exceptional bowling performance

Supporting Ferguson’s heroics were Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, and Mitchell Santner, who all chipped in with valuable wickets to restrict Papua New Guinea to a low total. Boult, Sodhi, and Southee each secured a couple of dismissals, while Santner contributed with a crucial breakthrough.

Papua New Guinea’s batting struggles

On the other hand, Papua New Guinea struggled right from the start of their innings. They found it challenging to score against the disciplined bowling of New Zealand and kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

The highest partnership of 27 runs between Charles Amini and Sese Bau provided some resistance, but it wasn’t enough to stabilize their innings. Sese Bau showed commendable skill against the spinners but eventually fell victim to the relentless pressure exerted by the Kiwi bowlers.

Despite Norman Vanua’s brief resistance with a defiant 14 runs, Papua New Guinea could not muster a competitive total. The bowlers of New Zealand capitalized on every opportunity, ensuring a comprehensive bowling performance that reflected their preparation and execution on the field.

Most economical 4-over spells in T20Is
2/0 (4) – Saad Bin Zafar (CAN) vs Panama, Coolidge, 2021
3/0 (4) – Lockie Ferguson (NZ) vs PNG, Tarouba, 2024*

Most economical 4-over spells in Men’s T20 WC
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