The 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup group stage concludes today with a dead rubber encounter between New Zealand and Papua New Guinea at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad. Both teams have been eliminated from contention for the Super 8s after West Indies and Afghanistan secured those spots from Group C.
Match Details:
- Match: New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea
- Tournament: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 (Group C)
- Venue: Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba, Trinidad
- Date: June 17, 2024
- Time: 8:15 PM Nepal Time
Who will you be backing for the win?
This is a surprising turn of events for New Zealand, a team known for their consistency in recent years. Led by Kane Williamson, they’ve enjoyed triumphs like the inaugural World Test Championship, a T20 World Cup final appearance in 2021, and a semifinal run in the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, a dip in form and a crucial loss to the West Indies dashed their hopes in this tournament.
Despite their early exit, New Zealand will be aiming to end their campaign on a high note. They boast a well-drilled unit with world-class players like Trent Boult and Mitchell Santner, who will be key figures with the ball. Their batting lineup, however, has shown some inconsistency.
Papua New Guinea, meanwhile, has lost all three matches so far. A defeat against fellow associate nation Uganda would be particularly disappointing, as PNG has more experience at this level. Openers Assad Vala and Sese Bau, along with Charles Amini, have shown glimpses of batting brilliance, but overall consistency has been lacking. Their bowling attack has also shown promise but needs to be sharper in all aspects.
While a win for Papua New Guinea would be a major upset, both teams are likely to use this match as an opportunity to experiment and give fringe players a chance to shine.
