Cricket is a game that brings people together, no matter where they’re from. On June 17, 2024, at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad, the Papua New Guinea National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard in a thrilling Group C match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. It was a match that showcased grit, talent, and some history-making moments, even if the result didn’t go PNG’s way. Let’s dive into the story of this game, break down the scorecard, and celebrate the spirit of cricket that shone through.
The Stage Is Set
Picture this: a warm Caribbean day, a lively crowd, and a pitch that’s got a bit of spice in it. Both teams were out of the running for the Super 8 stage, but there was still plenty to play for—pride, experience, and a chance to leave a mark. For PNG, nicknamed the Barramundis, this was an opportunity to test themselves against one of cricket’s powerhouses. For New Zealand, the Black Caps, it was a chance to end a disappointing tournament on a high note, especially with veteran pacer Trent Boult playing his final T20 World Cup match.
The match wasn’t without its hiccups. Rain delayed the start, and the covers came on and off like a game of musical chairs. But once the skies cleared, the stage was set for an exciting contest. New Zealand’s captain, Kane Williamson, won the toss and chose to bowl first, banking on his team’s strong bowling attack to make early inroads.
Papua New Guinea’s Innings: A Tough Day at the Office
PNG’s batting lineup took to the crease with high hopes but faced a daunting task against New Zealand’s disciplined bowlers. The pitch had a bit of juice, offering swing and seam movement, and the Black Caps made full use of it.
Early Wickets Fall
Right from the start, PNG struggled. Opener Tony Ura was dismissed for just 1 run in the second over, caught by Devon Conway off Tim Southee’s bowling. Captain Assad Vala followed soon after, out for 6 in the fourth over, caught by Glenn Phillips off Lockie Ferguson. At 14/2, PNG were in trouble early.
Charles Amini and Sese Bau tried to steady the ship, putting together a gritty partnership. Amini, in particular, showed fight, scoring 17 runs off 25 balls with careful shot selection. Bau chipped in with 12 runs, but the going was slow. The New Zealand bowlers, led by Ferguson, kept the pressure on, not giving an inch.
Lockie Ferguson’s Historic Spell
Then came the moment that defined the match: Lockie Ferguson’s extraordinary bowling spell. In a performance that etched his name into T20 cricket history, Ferguson bowled four maiden overs—yes, four overs without conceding a single run—and picked up three wickets. He dismissed Charles Amini (17), Sese Bau (12), and Chad Soper (1) in quick succession, leaving PNG reeling at 43/5 after 13 overs. This was only the second time in men’s T20I history that a bowler achieved four maidens in a match, and the first at a T20 World Cup. Ferguson’s figures of 4-4-0-3 were nothing short of magical.
The Collapse
PNG’s middle and lower order couldn’t recover from Ferguson’s onslaught. Trent Boult, in his farewell T20 World Cup appearance, chipped in with two wickets (Hiri Hiri for 7 and Kiplin Doriga for 5). Spinners Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner also got in on the act, with Sodhi stumping Kabua Morea for a duck and Santner removing Norman Vanua (14). Alei Nao was the last to fall, caught by Daryl Mitchell off Southee, as PNG were bowled out for 78 runs in 19.4 overs.
It was a tough day for PNG’s batsmen. Charles Amini’s 17 was the top score, followed by Norman Vanua’s 14, but no one could convert their starts into something substantial. The Black Caps’ bowlers were relentless, with Ferguson’s historic spell supported by Southee (2/11) and Boult (2/14).
New Zealand’s Chase: A Steady March to Victory
Chasing a modest 79 runs, New Zealand knew they had the upper hand but couldn’t afford to get complacent. PNG’s bowlers, led by the fiery Kabua Morea, were ready to give it their all and make the Black Caps work for every run.
Early Setbacks
PNG struck early, giving their fans something to cheer about. Kabua Morea was the star of the show, removing Finn Allen for a duck in the first over, caught by Kiplin Doriga. Morea wasn’t done—he dismissed Rachin Ravindra (6) in the third over, leaving New Zealand at 20/2. Suddenly, the chase wasn’t looking so straightforward.
Conway and Williamson Take Charge
Enter Devon Conway and Kane Williamson, two of New Zealand’s most reliable batsmen. Conway played the anchor role, scoring a steady 35 off 32 balls, including a six and a few crisp boundaries. Williamson, the captain, was equally composed, finishing unbeaten on 18 off 17 balls. Together, they put on a crucial 34-run partnership that broke the back of the chase.
Semo Kamea provided a moment of hope for PNG when he trapped Conway lbw for 35, but by then, New Zealand needed just a handful of runs. Daryl Mitchell (19* off 12 balls) joined Williamson and sealed the deal with a boundary and a couple of runs in the 13th over. New Zealand finished at 79/3 in 12.2 overs, winning by seven wickets with plenty of overs to spare.
Morea was the pick of PNG’s bowlers, finishing with 2/4 in 2.2 overs, while Kamea took 1/23. Despite their efforts, PNG’s total was too small to defend against a seasoned New Zealand side.
The Papua New Guinea National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: Breaking It Down
Here’s the full sPapua New Guinea National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard, laid out clearly so you can see exactly how it all went down.
|
Papua New Guinea Innings (78/10, 19.4 overs) |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tony Ura c Conway b Southee |
1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14.28 |
|
Assad Vala (c) c Phillips b Ferguson |
6 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 37.50 |
|
Charles Amini c Conway b Ferguson |
17 | 25 | 2 | 0 | 68.00 |
|
Sese Bau c Ravindra b Ferguson |
12 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 54.54 |
|
Hiri Hiri c Conway b Boult |
7 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 63.63 |
|
Chad Soper c Williamson b Ferguson |
1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
|
Kiplin Doriga (wk) c Phillips b Boult |
5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 71.42 |
|
Norman Vanua c Allen b Santner |
14 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 107.69 |
|
Kabua Morea st Conway b Sodhi |
0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Alei Nao c Mitchell b Southee |
3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 42.85 |
|
Semo Kamea not out |
1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
|
Extras (lb 7, w 4) |
11 | ||||
|
Total (19.4 overs) |
78 | 6 | 1 |
|
Bowling (NZ) |
O |
M |
R |
W |
Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tim Southee |
4 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 2.75 |
|
Trent Boult |
4 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 3.50 |
|
Lockie Ferguson |
4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0.00 |
|
Mitchell Santner |
4 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 4.25 |
|
Ish Sodhi |
3.4 | 0 | 29 | 2 | 7.94 |
|
New Zealand Innings (79/3, 12.2 overs) |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Finn Allen c Doriga b Morea |
0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Devon Conway (wk) lbw b Kamea |
35 | 32 | 3 | 1 | 109.37 |
|
Rachin Ravindra c Amini b Morea |
6 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 54.54 |
|
Kane Williamson (c) not out |
18 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 105.88 |
|
Daryl Mitchell not out |
19 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 158.33 |
|
Extras (lb 1) |
1 | ||||
|
Total (12.2 overs) |
79 | 8 | 1 |
|
Bowling (PNG) |
O |
M |
R |
W |
Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kabua Morea |
2.2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1.71 |
|
Semo Kamea |
3 | 0 | 23 | 1 | 7.66 |
|
Alei Nao |
3 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 7.33 |
|
Assad Vala |
1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4.00 |
|
Charles Amini |
1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5.00 |
|
Chad Soper |
1 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14.00 |
|
Norman Vanua |
1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6.00 |
Result: New Zealand won by 7 wickets.
Player of the Match: Lockie Ferguson (3/0 in 4 overs).
Venue: Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba, Trinidad.
Date: June 17, 2024.
What Made This Match Special
Lockie Ferguson’s Record-Breaking Performance
Let’s talk about Lockie Ferguson again because, wow, what a spell! Bowling four maidens in a T20 match is unheard of, let alone at a World Cup. His accuracy was pinpoint, and PNG’s batsmen had no answer to his pace and movement. Ferguson later said the pitch was tough to bat on, and he enjoyed the challenge of bowling seam-up throughout. His performance earned him the Player of the Match award, and deservedly so.
PNG’s Fighting Spirit
PNG may have lost, but they didn’t go down without a fight. Kabua Morea’s fiery opening spell gave New Zealand a scare, dismissing two top-order batsmen cheaply. Captain Assad Vala reflected after the match, saying his team could take a lot of learnings, especially in batting. “We gave it our best,” he said, noting the support from fans back home. For an associate nation like PNG, competing against a team like New Zealand is a massive achievement in itself.
Trent Boult’s Farewell
This match was bittersweet for New Zealand fans, as it marked Trent Boult’s final T20 World Cup appearance. The left-arm pacer, known for his swing and guile, bowled beautifully, taking 2/14. Kane Williamson praised Boult’s contribution, saying, “Playing with Trent has been really special. His experience will be missed.” Boult’s performance was a fitting end to his T20 World Cup journey.
The Bigger Picture
For New Zealand, this win was a consolation after a disappointing tournament. Losses to Afghanistan and West Indies earlier in the group stage knocked them out of contention, but they showed their class against PNG. Williamson admitted the team faced tough conditions and strong opponents but would reflect and rebuild for the future.
For PNG, the T20 World Cup was a learning curve. They finished winless, with losses to West Indies, Uganda, Afghanistan, and New Zealand, but their spirited performances showed the growth of cricket in the region. The Barramundis have been making strides as an associate member of the ICC, and matches like this are invaluable for their development.
Why This Match Matters
Cricket is more than just runs and wickets—it’s about stories, growth, and moments that inspire. For Papua New Guinea National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard on the world stage is a chance to show the world what they’re capable of. For New Zealand, it was about playing with pride and giving a legend like Trent Boult a proper send-off. And for fans, it was a reminder of why we love this game: it’s unpredictable, it’s emotional, and it’s always full of surprises.
The scorecard tells the tale of a one-sided match, but the real story is in the effort, the passion, and the history made on that Trinidad pitch. Lockie Ferguson’s spell will be talked about for years, PNG’s bowlers showed they can rattle even the best, and the Black Caps walked away with a win to end their campaign on a high.
Looking Ahead
As PNG continues to grow as a cricketing nation, matches like this will only make them stronger. They’ve got a passionate fanbase and a talented core of players who are learning with every game. New Zealand, meanwhile, will use this experience to regroup and come back stronger in future tournaments.
