Lockie Ferguson Creates T20 World Cup History With Four Maiden Overs

Although the New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea (PNG) Group C match in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 had no major significance as both teams were already eliminated from the group stage, Blackcaps right-arm pacer Lockie Ferguson produced a special bowling performance to grab the trending page. Ferguson became the first bowler in T20 World Cup history to record four maiden overs in a match.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 runners-up, New Zealand, already confirmed their tournament exit after badly losing their first two games of the tournament against Afghanistan and West Indies. While the Blackcaps thrashed Uganda by nine wickets, they were looking for another easy win before ending their campaign for the tournament.

ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 (New Zealand vs PNG): Lockie Ferguson bowled four maiden overs  

Against PNG on Monday, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson chose to field first after winning the toss at Brian Lara Stadium (Tarouba, Trinidad). New Zealand bundled out PNG for only 78 runs. While every New Zealand bowler performed strongly in the game by taking at least one wicket, Lockie Ferguson was the best Blackcaps bowler, with incredible bowling figures of 4-4-0-3.

Here are some key stats from Lockie Ferguson’s incredible bowling performance with four maiden overs.

• First bowler to record four maidens in a match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. 
• Second bowler to record four maiden overs in a T20I match. Canada left-arm spinner Saad Bin Zafar was the first bowler to deliver four maiden overs in a T20I fixture (4-4-0-2 vs Panama in 2021).
• Only the third bowler to record four maiden overs in a T20 match.

Bowlers with four maiden overs in a T20 match  

(As of 17 June 2024)

In reply, New Zealand chased down the paltry target in 12.2 overs after losing their top three batters.