New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson etched his name in the history books of T20 International cricket on Monday. During the match against Papua New Guinea at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, Ferguson delivered a bowling spell unlike any other, setting a brand new world record in the shortest format.
Unprecedented Economy: Four Maidens, Three Wickets
Ferguson’s brilliance came in the form of a four-over spell where he conceded a staggering total of zero runs. This incredible feat, achieved amidst rain delays, makes him the first bowler ever to bowl four consecutive maidens and take wickets in a T20 World Cup match. He also becomes only the second bowler in T20I history to achieve this feat, joining Canada’s Saad Bin Zafar who achieved the feat of four maidens with two wickets in a T20 World Cup qualifier against Panama in 2021.
Ferguson’s dominance started right from the very first ball of his spell. He struck early, dismissing Papua New Guinea captain Assad Vala for just 6 runs. This maiden in the powerplay set the tone for his spell, showcasing his exceptional control and pace that troubled the PNG batsmen throughout.
Maintaining Pressure Throughout
Ferguson continued his relentless attack, bowling another maiden in the first over after the powerplay. He was then brought back into the attack for the 12th over, where he picked up another crucial wicket, dismissing Charles Amini for 17 runs. His dominance continued in the 14th over, where he cleaned up Chad Soper for just 1 run, completing his third wicket-maiden and etching his name in cricketing history.
The historic achievement was met with jubilation from the New Zealand camp. After bowling the final ball of his fourth over, Ferguson received cheers and handshakes from his teammates, celebrating a feat that will be remembered for years to come. Interestingly, there were two runs scored off the third ball of his final over, but they were classified as leg byes, meaning they didn’t affect his exceptional bowling figures.
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