Ireland all-rounder Curtis Campher etched his name into the record books by becoming the first male professional cricketer to scalp five wickets in as many deliveries during Munster Redsโ emphatic victory over North-West Warriors in the Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy on Thursday.
The feat unfolded at Pembroke Cricket Club in Sandymount, Dublin, where Campherโs blistering spell dismantled the Warriors` middle and lower order in the blink of an eye. Defending a total of 188, the Munster Reds captain turned the tide with his right-arm pace, reducing the Warriors from 87 for 5 to 88 all out in a stunning collapse that lasted just five balls.
๐ฃ โ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐จ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค๐ช๐ง๐ฃ๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค๐๐๐ฎ.โ
Curtis Campher reflects on Munster Redsโ win over North West Warriors โ including an outrageous 5๏ธโฃ wickets in 5 balls ๐
We asked if he fancied ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐โฆ his reaction says it all ๐ โฆ pic.twitter.com/atEVtdNNZi
โ Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland) July 10, 2025
The 26-year-old, who has previously featured on the rare list of bowlers to take four wickets in four balls in T20 internationals, now adds another remarkable chapter to his career. Though his five-in-five achievement is unprecedented in menโs professional cricket, it follows in the footsteps of Zimbabwe U-19 womenโs all-rounder Kelis Ndhlovu, who first achieved this rare feat in a domestic T20 match in 2024.
Campherโs demolition job began in the 12th over when he uprooted Jared Wilsonโs off stump with a beautiful inswinger. The very next delivery saw Graham Hume trapped leg-before by another delivery that nipped in sharply. That set the stage for a hat-trick, which Campher completed with the first ball of his next over, as Andy McBrine edged to the fielder.
The onslaught didnโt end there. Campher struck again with his fourth delivery to remove Robbie Millar for a duck, before closing out the match by dismissing Josh Wilson on the fifth ball, also for a duck, sealing the Warriors` fate in spectacular fashion. He ended with remarkable figures of 5 for 16 from just 2.3 overs.
Earlier, Munster Reds had posted a strong total of 188 for 7 in their 20 overs after opting to bat. Their disciplined bowling effort, led by Campherโs magical spell, ensured a crushing 100-run win.
Campher, who made his international debut for Ireland in 2020, has since become a key figure across all formats, representing his country in 7 Tests, 43 One-Day Internationals, and 61 T20 Internationals.
(With PTI inputs)