All-rounder becomes first male cricketer to achieve rare feat in professional match
By Reuters | July 11, 2025

DUBLIN – Irish all-rounder Curtis Campher etched his name into cricket history on Thursday by becoming the first male cricketer in professional cricket to take five wickets in five consecutive deliveries.

The stunning achievement came during a domestic T20 Trophy clash, where Campher was representing Munster Reds against the North-West Warriors. His blistering spell played a key role in Munster’s dominant 100-run victory.

Campher’s historic sequence began at the end of the 12th over, where he bowled Jared Wilson and trapped Graham Hume lbw on back-to-back deliveries. Returning in the 14th over, he claimed a hat-trick by dismissing Andy McBrine, then followed it up with wickets of Robbie Millar and Josh Wilson — completing the incredible five-in-five.

Reflecting on the moment, Campher told Cricket Ireland, “I wasn’t really sure what was happening. I just kind of stuck to my guns and kept it real simple — luckily it kind of went off.”

While Campher is the first male player to record such a feat in professional cricket, Zimbabwe’s Kelis Ndhlovu became the first cricketer overall to do so. She achieved the rare milestone in 2024 during a domestic Under-19 women’s T20 match, taking five wickets in five balls for the Eagles Women.

Campher’s performance is being hailed as one of the most remarkable bowling feats in the modern T20 era, cementing his status as one of Ireland’s rising stars in international and domestic cricket.