5 wickets in 5 balls; Ireland's Curtis Campher becomes first bowler to achieve incredible feat

Ireland pacer Curtis Campher etched his name in the history books with a stunning display of bowling in the Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy. Leading the Munster Reds against North-West Warriors, the 26-year-old became the first male cricketer to claim five wickets in five consecutive balls in professional cricket.

Campher’s record-breaking feat saw him finish with figures of 5/16 in 2.3 overs, dismantling the Warriors’ chase of 189. His fiery spell reduced them from 87/5 to 88 all out, sealing a comprehensive win for his side.

The Five Victims in Five Deliveries

Campher’s magical run began with the dismissal of Jared Wilson, followed by scalps of Graham Hume, Andy McBrine, Robbie Miller, and Josh Wilson in successive deliveries. Remarkably, the wickets were spread across his second and third overs due to the changeover.

“Because of the change of overs, I wasn’t really sure what was happening,” Campher admitted to ESPNcricinfo. “I just stuck to my guns, kept it simple, and luckily it went off.”

A Comeback to Remember

This milestone came in just his second match after returning from a finger injury that sidelined him from Ireland’s ODI and T20I series against the West Indies. “Performances aside, it’s been really good to be back with the boys. When you’re injured, it can be a dark place,” Campher shared.

Not the First Ever, But Historic Nonetheless

While Campher is the first man to achieve this in professional cricket, Zimbabwe’s Kelis Ndhlovu achieved the feat in women’s cricket in 2024 during a domestic T20 match.

A Moment for the Ages

For Campher, this wasn’t just about rewriting records; it was a triumph of resilience and determination, and a moment that will inspire cricketers worldwide.