As the sun set on the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad, New Zealand capped off their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign with a dominant seven-wicket victory over Papua New Guinea (PNG). Despite the victory being a mere consolation in the grand scheme of the tournament, it was a memorable occasion, marking the final T20 World Cup game for the Kiwi pacer Trent Boult.
Chasing a modest target of 79, New Zealand experienced minimal difficulty in reaching the score, achieving the target within 12.2 overs. The clear skies and a subdued PNG bowling attack provided the perfect setting for the Kiwi batsmen to showcase their skills one last time in this tournament.
Trent Boult, who announced his retirement from T20 World Cup cricket, closed his illustrious T20 World Cup career with a commendable performance, registering figures of 2/14. Although he couldn’t secure an early wicket this time, Boult’s contributions remained significant throughout the game. His disciplined bowling over the years has made him one of the most dependable figures in the New Zealand lineup.
However, the spotlight in this match was stolen by Lockie Ferguson, who delivered an extraordinary spell of fast bowling that left the PNG batsmen bewildered. Ferguson’s four overs were all maidens, and he captured three crucial wickets. His hard-length deliveries and expertly executed yorkers were virtually unplayable, reducing the PNG side to mere spectators.
PNG’s batting lineup struggled to find rhythm, with only Charles Amini managing to reach double figures. Amini’s 17 runs off 25 balls provided a fleeting moment of resistance in an otherwise dismal batting display. The rest of the batting lineup crumbled under the sustained pressure exerted by the Kiwi bowlers, eventually folding for just 78 runs.
In response, New Zealand’s chase began on a shaky note, losing Finn Allen early to a delivery by Kabua Morea. Allen’s dismissal on the second ball of the innings briefly raised PNG’s hopes. The situation didn’t improve quickly for the Kiwis, with Rachin Ravindra falling in the 5th over for six runs, courtesy of a mistimed shot that found a fielder at deep mid-wicket.
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Devon Conway, however, provided stability with a cautious but effective innings. His 35 not out off 32 balls, which included three sixes and two fours, kept the scoreboard ticking. Conway’s approach ensured that there were no further hiccups in the chase, laying a solid foundation for his team to build upon.
Captain Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell then guided New Zealand to a comfortable finish. Williamson’s 18 runs and Mitchell’s unbeaten 19 ensured the target was met without further loss of wickets, concluding the match with relative ease.
This victory marked New Zealand’s second win in the tournament. Their first win came in their preceding match, yet these results were insufficient to advance from Group C, where they finished in third place. The West Indies and Afghanistan claimed the top two spots in the group, securing their progression to the next stage of the competition.
The Kiwis’ journey in T20 World Cup 2024 was marred by early setbacks, losing their initial matches to Afghanistan and West Indies. These early defeats sealed their fate, making their subsequent victories over Uganda and PNG immaterial in terms of advancing in the tournament. For a team that reached the finals in the 2021 T20 World Cup, this campaign was a disappointment.
With New Zealand’s exit from the T20 World Cup 2024, focus turns to the remaining group match between the West Indies and Afghanistan, slated for June 18 (as per IST). This encounter, however, is a dead rubber with both teams already through to the next round.
As New Zealand contemplates their exit, they will undoubtedly reflect on what could have been. The farewell game for Trent Boult will remain a poignant memory, celebrating the career of one of their greatest bowlers in the T20 format. Boult’s departure underscores a changing of the guard for New Zealand cricket, as they aim to rebuild and come back stronger in future international competitions.
In a tournament that promised much but delivered little for the Kiwis, the final victory against PNG and the career farewell of Trent Boult offered a bittersweet conclusion to their T20 World Cup journey.
