DUBLIN: Ireland all-rounder Curtis Campher etched his name in cricketing history on Thursday by becoming the first male cricketer in professional cricket to take five wickets in five consecutive balls.
The 26-year-old achieved the unprecedented feat while playing for Munster Reds against North-West Warriors in the Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy.
Campher, who captains the Reds, finished with astonishing figures of 5 for 16 from just 2.3 overs, as the Warriors were bowled out for 88 while chasing a target of 189.
According to Cricket Ireland, Campher’s five wickets came across the final delivery of the 12th over and the first four balls of the 14th over. His spell triggered a dramatic collapse, with the Warriors tumbling from 87 for 5 to 88 all out.
The streak began when he bowled Jared Wilson with a sharp in-swinger, followed by trapping Graham Hume lbw on the very next delivery.
In his next over, Campher completed a hat-trick by dismissing Andy McBrine, who miscued a slog to deep midwicket.
He then removed Robbie Millar caught behind and bowled Josh Wilson around his legs to complete five wickets in five balls.
The first recorded instance of a bowler taking five wickets in five balls in a men's professional game 🤯
Curtis Campher's burst in the Ireland provincial T20 trophy earns him a bit of history 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dj5MrL4e5w
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 10, 2025
“I wasn’t really sure what was happening because of the change of overs,” Campher told Cricket Ireland after the match. “I just stuck to my guns and kept it simple, and luckily it paid off.”
Campher, who had recently returned from a finger injury, had already made headlines in the past for taking four wickets in four balls against the Netherlands during the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup.
On Thursday, he also contributed with the bat, scoring 44 off 24 balls to help set up the Reds’ commanding total.
Reflecting on his return to cricket after injury, Campher said, “When you get injured, it’s a bit of a dark place, with all the rehab and gym work. It’s just been great to be back with the boys and enjoy the sunshine.”
Although Campher is the first man to achieve the milestone in professional cricket, he is the second cricketer overall.
Zimbabwe’s Kelis Ndhlovu became the first player to take five wickets in five balls during a domestic women’s T20 match in 2024, representing Zimbabwe U-19 against Eagles Women.
