NZ VS PNG - 39th Match, Group C, ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2024

That's it from game 39. NZ have won this easily. They have finished with two wins but that is sadly not enough. That game against Afghanistan, they would want to reflect on that. Even the game against the Windies, they had a chance but let it slip. But would look to build for the future. As far as the present is concerned, Boult is bowing out. Again set the tone even in his last game with some fine new ball bowling. The T20Is will miss him! You peeps won't be missing anything though as we will continue supplying you with every cricketing nugget. Bye bye for now though!

Kane Williamson: Turning up and trying to execute. You just need to let the surface do its thing. Nice to get over the line. Whenever you come to any tournament, you want to do well. We faced two teams who were challenging and had good idea of the conditions. I think after every tournament, there is a bit of reflection. Someone like Trent, his last ICC tournament. Sad to see him go. But that's the nature of international cricket. As a guy, he has just got a big appetite. He trains very hard. He is very clear as to how he wants to operate. He has always set the tone. Has been a number of ICC events and he has made a significant contribution to our game.

Assad Vala: The batting aspect of the game. We had difficulty. We found the bowlers a little challenging. We need to improve on a lot of areas. There was some juice on the wicket and they exploited it really well. We have been here for the last couple of weeks and a lot of people are watching this. We will look to improve and win more games of cricket.

Stats by Shashikant Singh

Most maiden overs bowled in a T20 WC match
4 - AFG (1) vs ENG (3), Colombo, 2012
4 - PAK (2) vs SA (2), Colombo, 2012
4 - BAN (3) vs NEP (1), Kingstown, 2024
4 - NZ (4) vs PNG (0), Tarouba, 2024*

Most consecutive losses in T20 WCs
10 - BAN (2007-12)
7 - PNG (2021-24)*
6 - ZIM (2007-14)
6 - OMAN (2021-24)

Lockie Ferguson | Player of the Match: Tough wicket to bat on, nice to bowl on a wicket like that. Sad to be leaving today with such high hopes but that's the game. There's not many games in T20s where I bowl seam-up all the way through and it was nice to get the win. It's hard to know what a par total on these sort of wickets. We have bowled well and put teams under pressure, going down against Afghanistan and West Indies cost us but that's sport and we need to get back again. It's a party always in the Caribbean and nice to have schoolkids watching on.

14:23 Local Time, 18:23 GMT, 23:53 IST: NZ have finished this inside 13 overs. Not as clinical as they were against Uganda but they will take it. PNG also weren't as good as they were against the Windies in their opening game. They were superb then but have fizzled out as far as their performances are concerned. They will be going back without a win. They put up individual spirited performances but those didn't really materialize into a win. NZ might have some wholesome changes after this campaign. They would be gutted with an early exit. Boult played his last WC game as well. And you just can't ignore the left-armer who won many games for the Kiwis. His wizardry with the new ball didn't really find too many answers from the opponents. He improvised his death ball bowling and in the last few years has been superb with the old ball as well. Earlier today, it was Lockie Ferguson who stole all the limelight with perfect figures of 4-4-0-3. PNG ended with only 78 being bowled out in the last over of the innings. NZ lost Allen early. Then Ravindra fell as well. But Conway batted well and so did the skipper to guide their team through.

Kabua Morea to Mitchell, 2 runs, and NZ finish with two wins from 4 games. PNG remain winless. Was a length delivery, slower, Mitchell went for the big heave and managed to send it over mid-on. The fielder tried but failed to get there. NZ win by 7 wickets. But would be heading home and so would the PNG team

Kabua Morea to Mitchell, no run, fuller length delivery, angled in, Mitchell chips the ball down to mid-wicket. Lands on a few bounce to the fielder

Kabua Morea [2.0-0-2-2] is back into the attack

Only two needed now. Mitchell would look to finish it off as soon as possible. NZ haven't been clinical with the bat but won't mind the chase.

Semo Kamea to Mitchell, 1 run, fuller length delivery, angled on to the pads, clipped down to fine leg for a single

Semo Kamea to Mitchell, FOUR, fuller length delivery, outside off, Mitchell gets under it and slaps it over cover for a four. Got the ball in his radar and put it away

Semo Kamea to Mitchell, FOUR, and four more. Only 7 needed now. Was a fuller length delivery down leg, Mitchell clipped it fine and the ball raced away for a four. That sped away fast

Semo Kamea to Williamson, 1 run, short of length delivery, angled in, pulled down to fine leg for a single

Semo Kamea to Mitchell, 1 run, fuller length delivery, angled in, clipped wide of mid-on for a single

Semo Kamea to Mitchell, FOUR, on the pads, angled in, Mitchell whips it and sends it wide of deep square for a four. That was played away nicely as he put that away past deep square

Norman Vanua to Mitchell, 1 run, short of length delivery, outside off, Mitchell looks to power it through the off-side but gets an inside edge on to the on-side for a single

Norman Vanua to Williamson, 1 run, cue-ends the short ball down to deep cover for a single