Curtis Campher stunned the cricket world on Thursday, July 10, by becoming the first male cricketer in professional history to take five wickets in five balls.
This performance came while representing Munster Reds against North-West Warriors in the Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy.
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Playing at the Mardyke Cricket Ground in Cork, Campher delivered a magical spell that saw the Warriors collapse from 87 for 5 to 88 all out while chasing a target of 189. His final bowling figures read 5 wickets for 16 runs in just 2.3 overs.
How did Curtis Campher take five wickets in five balls?
The rare feat unfolded across two overs. Campher’s first strike came off the second-last ball of the 12th over, when Jared Wilson was bowled by a sharp inswinger.
On the very next ball, Graham Hume was trapped leg-before-wicket with another inswinging delivery, putting Campher on a hat-trick.
Resuming in the 14th over, Campher completed the hat-trick when Andy McBrine miscued a shot to deep midwicket. The fourth wicket came off the next ball as Robbie Millar edged one behind.
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With the crowd already in disbelief, Campher bowled Josh Wilson with a ball that crashed into the stumps, sealing five wickets in five balls.
This rare sequence has only one known equivalent in women’s cricket: Kelis Ndhlovu of Zimbabwe U-19, who did it in 2024.
What has Curtis Campher said about the five-in-five moment?
Campher appeared calm when reflecting on his astonishing performance. “Honestly, I didn’t even realise what was happening right away because it happened across two overs,” he said after the game. “I just kept things simple and it worked.”
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When asked if he believed he could’ve gone for six wickets in six balls had another batter been available, Campher laughed it off. “No chance. You just take what comes. Some days it works, some days it doesn’t. I’m just happy to be playing again.”