Lockie Ferguson bowls four maidens, Estonia batter Chauhan hits fastest T20I ton ever

Lockie Ferguson achieved a historic milestone in Men’s T20 International cricket during Monday's match against Papua New Guinea at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. The New Zealand fast bowler delivered an unprecedented performance, finishing his four-over spell without conceding a single run and taking three wickets for zero runs, setting a new world record in the format.

Before Ferguson, only one male bowler had managed to bowl a complete set of four overs without giving away any runs—Canada’s Saad Bin Zafar against Panama in 2021. Ferguson is now the second player to accomplish this feat and the first to do so in a T20 World Cup.

The 33-year-old pacer struck immediately, dismissing Papua New Guinea captain Assad Valada for 6 runs off 16 balls with his very first delivery. He maintained the pressure by bowling a maiden over in the powerplay. Returning to the attack in the 12th over, Ferguson claimed his second wicket by dismissing Charles Amini for 17 off 25 balls. He continued his extraordinary performance by securing his third wicket in the 14th over, clean bowling Chad Soper for 1 off 6 balls. Ferguson's incredible spell concluded with four consecutive maiden overs, sparking celebrations and handshakes from his teammates as he fielded the final ball of his spell.

In another remarkable event on Monday, Sahil Chauhan of Estonia shattered the record for the fastest-ever century in Men’s T20 International cricket. Chauhan's unbeaten 144 off just 41 balls against Cyprus not only secured his team’s victory but also set several records. He enabled Estonia to chase down Cyprus' total of 191/7 in dramatic fashion. Chauhan surpassed the previous record for the quickest T20I century, held by Namibia's Jan-Nicol Loftie Eaton, who had reached his century off 33 balls just four months prior. Chauhan’s century was also the fastest in all T20s, breaking Chris Gayle's record of a 30-ball century in the IPL 2013.

Batting at number four, Chauhan hit 24 boundaries, including 18 sixes, achieving a strike rate of 351.21 and dismantling the Cyprus bowling attack. His 18 sixes in a single innings set a new Men’s T20I record, previously held by Afghanistan’s Hazratullah Zazai and New Zealand’s Finn Allen, who both hit 16 sixes in an innings.