Irish Pacer Becomes First Male Cricketer to Achieve Rare Feat
Curtis Campher, the 26-year-old Irish pacer, etched his name in cricket history on July 10, 2025, when he became the first male cricketer to take five wickets in five balls during a T20 match. Representing Munster Reds in the 2025 Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy, Campher pulled off the astonishing feat against the North-West Warriors.
The South African-born right-arm pacer began his remarkable spell by dismissing Jared Wilson. On the very next delivery, he sent Graham Hume packing. Returning in the 14th over, Campher got the better of Warriors’ captain Andy McBrine, who had been playing a steady knock, scoring 29 off 26 balls.
What followed was nothing short of sensational. Campher cleaned up the tail with back-to-back wickets of Robbie Miller and Josh Wilson—both out for golden ducks. With that, he not only completed a hat-trick but also became the first male cricketer ever to claim five wickets in five consecutive deliveries in professional cricket.
A Complete All-Round Performance with Bat and Ball
Campher’s heroics weren’t just limited to the ball. Earlier in the day, he made a strong impact with the bat, scoring a quickfire 44 off just 24 balls, including two boundaries and four massive sixes. His all-round brilliance played a crucial role in helping Munster Reds dominate the game.
This extraordinary performance is being hailed as one of the greatest all-round displays in domestic T20 history. While Campher’s record-breaking bowling spell is a first in the men’s game, a similar achievement had been recorded before in women’s cricket. In 2024, Zimbabwe U-19’s Kelis Ndhlovu had also taken five wickets in five balls in a domestic T20 tournament.
Campher’s feat will be remembered not just for the statistics, but for the way he delivered under pressure—proving once again why he’s one of Ireland’s most exciting cricketing talents.
