After a disappointing loss in the first T20, New Zealand came back strong in the second match, thanks to a brilliant performance from fast bowler Lockie Ferguson. His hat-trick in the second innings helped the Kiwis defend a modest total and level the series against Sri Lanka. The match, which was a nail-biting affair, had fans on the edge of their seats until the very end.
In a thrilling second T20 match at Dambulla, New Zealand's fast bowler Lockie Ferguson stole the show with a hat-trick, helping his team secure a close five-run victory over hosts Sri Lanka. Despite the spin-friendly pitch, Ferguson's sheer pace and precision proved to be too much for the Sri Lankan batters, leading to their defeat. Adding to the team's impressive performance, wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay broke a T20I record, completing six dismissals in a single match.
New Zealand's star batsman Kane Williamson has announced he will be opting out of several international matches in January to participate in the South Africa T20 league. Despite stepping down as captain and forgoing a contract for the 2024/25 season, Williamson intends to continue playing for his country as long as possible. However, with other key players like Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson also opting out of future tournaments, New Zealand may face a challenging rebuilding phase in the coming years. Williamson believes it is important for players to balance their cricketing careers with their personal lives, and urges cricket boards to monitor the growing number of players prioritizing T20 franchise cricket over international duties.
With a superb spell of 4-4-0-3, Lockie Ferguson became only the second bowler in T20I history to record four maiden overs in a spell, helping New Zealand dismiss Papua New Guinea for a mere 78 in the World Cup. The Kiwi bowlers, led by Ferguson, terrorized the PNG batters, setting up an easy chase for New Zealand who achieved the target with 46 balls to spare. Despite their consistent performance in ICC tournaments, New Zealand's early elimination from the T20 World Cup means they will now focus on regrouping for the next edition.
In the highly anticipated T20 World Cup match between West Indies and Afghanistan, Gulbadin Naib delivers an early blow to the West Indies team as he dismisses key player Shai Hope. With the pressure on, can West Indies make a comeback and secure a victory or will Afghanistan continue their dominant performance? Stay tuned for live updates.
Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru face off in the 58th match of the Indian Premier League 2024. PBKS captain Sam Curran has won the toss and opted to bowl first against RCB. The two teams have made some key changes to their playing XI, with Maxwell being replaced by Lockie Ferguson for RCB and Livingstone coming in for Rabada for PBKS. Both teams are looking for crucial wins to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Sunrisers Hyderabad is gearing up to face off against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the ongoing IPL 2024 tournament. SRH is currently ranked third in the points table with 10 points after playing seven games, while RCB is at the bottom of the standings with just two points from eight matches. The last time these two teams met, SRH recorded the highest IPL score in history by hammering 287 runs. Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Virat Kohli are the players to watch out for in this exciting match.
In an intense cricket match between Australia and New Zealand, Nathan Ellis proved to be the star player. With powerful swings and precise pitches, Nathan Ellis led Australia to victory with a 72-run lead. Despite New Zealand's efforts, Ellis and his teammates proved to be the stronger team, with Zampa getting his 4th wicket and Ellis ultimately taking the game-winning hit.
In the fourth Twenty20 international between Pakistan and New Zealand, Mohammad Rizwan's unbeaten 90 dominated the Pakistan's score of 158-5. However, Rizwan lacked support from his teammates and was denied the strike in the closing stages. New Zealand's captain, Mitchell Santner, chose to bat first and his bowlers performed with discipline, led by Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson. New Zealand made two changes to their team with Will Young replacing Covid positive Devon Conway and Adam Milne replacing Ish Sodhi.