DUBLIN — Ireland international Curtis Campher has described the "disbelief" among his Munster Reds teammates after he became the first male cricketer to take five wickets in five consecutive balls in a professional match during their T20 Inter-Provincial Cup clash against the Northern Knights.
The 24-year-old all-rounder achieved the unprecedented feat in the 18th over of the Knights' innings, sparking wild celebrations at Pembroke Cricket Club. Campher, who had already taken two wickets earlier in the innings, dismissed Shane Getkate, Matthew Foster, Gavin Hoey, and Marcus Poskitt before trapping Ben White lbw to complete the historic five-in-five.
"We were all in shock"
Speaking after the match, Campher admitted even he struggled to process what had happened: "Honestly, I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. The boys were just in shock—I was in shock. Five wickets in five balls? That’s something you dream about, but you never expect it to actually happen."The achievement places Campher in elite company. Only two other players—Lasith Malinga (for Sri Lanka vs. South Africa in 2007) and Rashid Khan (for Afghanistan vs. Ireland in 2019)—have taken four wickets in four balls in T20 internationals. No male player had ever taken five in five in a professional match until now.
How the magic over unfolded
The sequence of dismissals was as follows:- Ball 1: Shane Getkate – Caught at deep midwicket
- Ball 2: Matthew Foster – Bowled middle stump
- Ball 3: Gavin Hoey – LBW
- Ball 4: Marcus Poskitt – Caught at cover
- Ball 5: Ben White – LBW
Campher’s heroics restricted the Knights to 150/9, a total the Reds chased down comfortably with seven wickets to spare. His final figures of 5/10 from three overs earned him Player of the Match honors.
A rare feat in cricket history
While hat-tricks (three wickets in three balls) are celebrated, taking five in five is almost unheard of. The only comparable instance came in 1962 when Australian Alby Roberts achieved the feat in a club game, but Campher’s achievement is the first in a professional match recognized by a major cricketing body.Former Ireland captain Kyle McCallan, commentating during the match, could barely contain his excitement: "I’ve never seen anything like this in my life! Five wickets in five balls—that’s not just rare, that’s rewriting the history books!"
From World Cup hero to record-breaker
Campher is no stranger to making headlines. He famously took four wickets in seven balls during Ireland’s T20 World Cup 2021 victory over the Netherlands. However, he admitted this achievement felt different: "The World Cup was special, but this… this is something I’ll never forget. The boys were going absolutely mental!"The performance has reignited discussions about Campher’s potential in franchise cricket. Having previously played for Manchester Originals in The Hundred, his stock is likely to rise further after this display.
What’s next for Campher?
With Ireland set to face India in a T20 series next month, Campher’s form couldn’t be better timed. National team coach Heinrich Malan praised his composure: "Curtis has always had that X-factor. Today was just another example of why he’s such an exciting player for Irish cricket."As for the man himself, Campher remained humble: "I’m just happy to contribute to the win. Records come and go, but winning games for your team is what really matters."
The cricketing world, however, won’t forget this moment anytime soon. Social media erupted with reactions, including from former players like Kevin Pietersen, who tweeted: "Five in five?! That’s insane! Hats off to Curtis Campher—what a spell!"
With the T20 World Cup 2024 on the horizon, Ireland will hope Campher can carry this momentum onto the global stage. For now, though, he can bask in the glory of a record that may stand for generations.