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3 Wickets, 4 Maidens! When Lockie Ferguson Delivered A Spell For The Ages In T20 World Cup

Soumyajit Dutta

Lockie Ferguson [Source: @Prajwal2742/X]Lockie Ferguson [Source: @Prajwal2742/X]

The rain had finally relented in Tarouba, but the deluge for Papua New Guinea was just beginning. New Zealand, already eliminated from the T20 World Cup 2024 after losses to Afghanistan and the West Indies, had pride to play for in their final group match. What followed was a spell of bowling so suffocating, so utterly dominant, it carved Lockie Ferguson’s name into the tournament’s record books forever.

The Day When Ferguson Was Unfathomable

June 17, 2024, Lockie Ferguson, the fiery New Zealand speedster, wasn't just good against PNG, he was impenetrable. Introduced in the 5th over after New Zealand opted to field, he announced his presence with venom. His very first ball lured PNG captain Assad Vala into an edge, comfortably pouched at first slip. The tone was set.

The Gritty Maiden Plus Wickets

What unfolded next was a masterclass in pace, accuracy, and exploiting challenging conditions. Over after over, Ferguson unleashed a barrage that the PNG batters simply couldn't counter. Sese Bau was stifled through the remainder of the first over and then completely silenced through a second consecutive maiden in the 7th.

Ferguson returned in the 12th over, and the pressure told immediately. A length ball stayed treacherously low, trapping Charles Amini (17) plumb in front. Initially given not out, Ferguson's conviction triggered a successful DRS review – another wicket, another maiden over.

His final act in the 14th over was clinical. Chad Soper, attempting to break the shackles, could only edge another Ferguson delivery onto his own stumps. Though two leg-byes finally registered against Ferguson's figures in that over, not a single run came off the bat during his entire, mesmerizing spell.

Lockie ferguson's 3 wickets [Source: @Manan_Vk/X]Lockie ferguson's 3 wickets [Source: @Manan_Vk/X]

Watch the highlights of Ferguson's bowling here.

Ferguson Etches History In T20I Bowling!

The numbers were staggering - 4 overs. 4 maidens. 0 runs. 3 wickets. Ferguson had become only the second bowler in all T20 International history to bowl four maidens in an innings. More significantly, he was the first ever to achieve this astonishing feat in a Men's T20 World Cup match.

"Obviously a tough wicket to bat on, so nice from my point of view to get on a wicket like that. There was some swing, which was nice today too," a modest Ferguson said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo, after receiving the Player of the Match award. 

Ferguson's understatement belied the sheer dominance of his performance on a damp pitch where PNG were bundled out for just 78.

Ferguson Delivers A Spell For The Ages!

The only name above Ferguson's on the list of bowlers with four maidens in a T20I innings was Canada's Saad Bin Zafar, who achieved it against Panama in a regional qualifier in 2021. 

While New Zealand's campaign ended prematurely, Lockie Ferguson's spell in Tarouba was a thunderous reminder of his devastating capabilities. On a rain-affected day in Trinidad, he delivered a performance of such rare, metronomic brilliance that it secured his place in the annals of T20 World Cup history. Four overs. Four maidens. Zero runs. A spell for the ages.