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New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson did the unimaginable during their final group fixture against Papua New Guinea (PNG) on Monday, June 17. The ace fast bowlers bowled four maiden overs to create history in the T20 World Cup.
Already out of the Super 8 race, the Blackcaps looked to finish their campaign on a winning note. They won the toss and chose to bowl first. Tim Southee was the first to draw blood in the second over before it was all Ferguson who produced a Test-match-like spell in the shortest format.
Ferguson struck in his first delivery to dismiss Assad Vala and finished with a wicket maiden. He bowled another maiden in his second over of the spell before the right-arm pacer was taken out of the attack.
Lockie Ferguson returned in the 12th over and struck only in his second delivery. He didn't concede any runs to register three maidens in as many overs. He kept the record intact to sign off without conceding a run from overs and picking up three wickets.
This is the first time a bowler has bowled four maiden overs in a T20 World Cup match and the second overall after Canada's Saad Bin Zafar in men's T20Is. Zafar achieved the feat during a game against Panama during the T20 World Cup Qualifiers.
Fans went ballistic after Ferguson registered a scintillating record that would remain intact for several years. With the game favoring batters nowadays, the figures from Lockie Ferguson will give them a massive confidence booster.
Here are some reactions:
"This Lockie Ferguson spell is utterly gripping. He's got figures of 2-0 after three overs. Only seven of his deliveries so far have hit the bat. He's bowled 38 dots in his last 42 balls this tournament. Three maidens in a spell is already a T20 World Cup record," another fan wrote.
"Lockie Ferguson that's completely Unreal," another fan commented.
"How can someone bowl 24 balls without a run and take 3 wickets? I guess Lockie Ferguson has a record that won't be broken. Wow," another fan chimed in.
"RCB WILL RETAIN him next year ahead of mega auction," another wrote.
Lockie Ferguson's heroics help New Zealand bowl out PNG for 78
Although New Zealand were already out of the competition, they came out all guns blazing against PNG in their final game of the T20 World Cup 2024.
While Ferguson did the damage early, it was Ish Sodhi and Trent Boult who cleaned up the middle and lower order with utmost ease. Only three batters managed to cross the single-digit score, as PNG were skittled out for 78 runs in 19.4 overs.
