New Zealand (79/3) has to endure a premature exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup despite beating Papua New Guinea (78) by 7 wickets on Monday. This was the Kiwis’ second straight win, but their hiccups early on in the tournament hurt them.
Put into bat, PNG struggled to reach 78 runs in 19.4 overs, largely due to Lockie Ferguson’s exceptional bowling (3/0). Despite Charles Amini’s efforts (17/25) to stabilize PNG’s innings, Trent Boult’s precise bowling during the final overs (2/14) prevented their batters from gaining the upper hand.
Lockie Ferguson’s impressive performance of 3 wickets for 0 runs and Tim Southee’s 2 wickets for 11 runs made it difficult for PNG’s batters to score. Charles Amini (17/25) made valiant attempts to prolong the innings but lacked support from his teammates.
During the chase, New Zealand also faced difficulty early on, especially after Finn Allen fell in the second ball of the innings. However, Devon Convey’s composed innings of 35 runs off 32 balls ultimately steered the team to a comfortable victory.
Both teams have already been eliminated from the Super Eight stage. New Zealand’s recent strong performances elevated them to the third position in Group C, but their efforts came too late in the competition. Despite this, they can take pride in their spirited performances in the closing matches. For PNG, finishing at the bottom of the standings signifies a steep learning curve, highlighting glimpses of brilliance in bowling but shortcomings in batting.
Here are five key moments that defined the outcome:
Ferguson’s exceptional bowling spell:
Lockie Ferguson’s memorable performance made him only the second bowler in T20 history to achieve a hat-trick without conceding a single run. His mastery left PNG’s batsmen baffled.
Norman Vanua’s explosive batting in the final overs:
The all-rounder (14/13) contributed significantly to finishing the innings strongly. In the 17th over, facing Ish Sodhi (2/29), he scored a boundary and a six within the first three balls. However, his innings were short-lived, as he fell to Trent Boult in the subsequent over while attempting another big shot. 
A stellar performance by New Zealand’s pacers:
The NZ bowlers dominated, restricting PNG to a meagre 78/10 in their innings. Lockie Ferguson stood out with figures of 3 wickets for 0 runs in a remarkable spell. Trent Boult claimed 2 wickets for 14 runs, while Tim Southee secured 2 for 11 runs. It was another challenging day for PNG’s batting lineup.
Finn Allen’s struggles against left-arm pace:
Finn Allen (0/2) endured another disappointing outing, failing to open his account before falling victim to Kabua Morea (2/4) on his third delivery. This marks the second instance in the tournament where he has succumbed to a left-arm pacer early in the innings.
Devon Conway’s composed innings:
Despite an early setback with Finn Allen’s dismissal in the second ball of the innings, Devon Conway’s mature knock of 35 runs off 32 balls steadied the ship for New Zealand. His calm approach allowed Kane Williamson to settle into his innings, relieving pressure off his batting partner.
New Zealand concluded their tournament on a high note despite exiting the Super Eight stage. Their bowlers delivered outstanding performances throughout, but inconsistencies in their batting lineup remain a concern. Meanwhile, PNG’s winless campaign highlighted moments of brilliance in bowling but underscored weaknesses in batting against stronger opponents. This experience will be a significant learning opportunity for them against top-tier competition.
