Lockie Ferguson has taken three wickets without conceding a run as NZ finished their tournament with a win
An exceptional spell of bowling by Lockie Ferguson helped New Zealand sign off from the T20 World Cup with a seven-wicket victory over Papua New Guinea in their Group C dead-rubber.
Both nations were already guaranteed to miss out on the Super Eight stage after New Zealand had suffered defeats to Afghanistan and West Indies earlier in the tournament.
Ferguson ensured they ended this World Cup with a win after he produced a four-over spell of 3-0, which contributed towards PNG being bowled out for 78.
Needless to say, it’s the most economical figures in men’s T20 World Cup history – no player has managed to bowl all four overs without conceding a run.
Canada’s Saad Bin Zafar took the equally ludicrous figures of 4-4-0-2 against Panama in 2021.
Devon Conway hit 35 in a comfortable chase for the Kiwis.
After a delay of more than hour due to rain at Brian Lara Cricket Academy stadium, PNG were put in to bat but struggled to make any headway in an innings that featured 81 dot balls.
Ferguson did the majority of the damage on his way to a player-of-the-match display after he sent down four consecutive maidens, which included the key scalp of Charles Amini for 17.
Trent Boult marked his final T20 World Cup appearance with two for 14 with PNG dismissed for 78 with two deliveries of their 20 overs left.
Any prospect of a rapid chase for New Zealand was distinguished when Kabua Morea had Finn Allen caught behind for a duck before the same man sent Rachin Ravindra back to the pavilion for six.
Opener Conway steadied the ship and hit a number of lusty blows, but could not get his team over the line after being pinned in front lbw by Semo Kamea for 35 off 32 balls.
It brought Daryl Mitchell to the crease alongside Kane Williamson and Mitchell struck three fours in quick succession to clinch a seven-wicket victory for New Zealand with 46 balls to spare from their final group encounter.
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