DUBLIN (Reuters) – Ireland’s Curtis Campher has etched his name into cricketing history by becoming the first male cricketer in professional cricket to take five wickets in five consecutive deliveries.
The astonishing feat occurred on Thursday during a domestic T20 Trophy clash between Munster Reds and the North-West Warriors at Dublin’s Pembroke Cricket Club. Campher, playing for the Reds, delivered a spell that stunned spectators and opponents alike, helping his team to a dominant 100-run victory.
The 25-year-old all-rounder began his magical spell at the end of the 12th over, dismissing Jared Wilson with a clean bowled and trapping Graham Hume lbw off the very next ball. Returning in the 14th over, he completed a hat-trick by removing Andy McBrine, then swiftly dismissed Robbie Millar and Josh Wilson — all in the span of five balls.
“I wasn’t really sure what was happening,” Campher told Cricket Ireland after the match. “I just kind of stuck to my guns and kept it real simple—and luckily, it kind of went off.”
While Campher is the first male professional to achieve this rare milestone, Zimbabwe women’s all-rounder Kelis Ndhlovu was the trailblazer. She became the first cricketer ever to claim five wickets in five balls during a domestic under-19 T20 match against the Eagles Women in 2024.
Campher’s historic performance has not only earned him global praise but also further cemented Ireland’s growing impact on the world cricket stage.
