5 Wickets in 5 Balls — Curtis Campher has made cricketing history by becoming the first male cricketer in professional cricket to take five wickets in five balls. The Ireland allrounder achieved this rare feat while playing for Munster Reds against North-West Warriors in the Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy held in Dublin on July 10, 2025.
5 Wickets in 5 Balls helped Campher finish with remarkable figures of 5 wickets for 16 runs in just 2.3 overs, as the Warriors collapsed from 87 for 5 to 88 all out in their chase of 189. His performance is now being hailed as one of the most extraordinary bowling spells ever seen in the T20 format.
A Magical Spell of Five Deliveries
5 Wickets in 5 Balls was Campher’s moment of magic, taken across the last ball of his second over and the first four balls of his third over. The chaos began when Jared Wilson was bowled by a brilliant inswinging delivery that crashed into the off stump. The very next ball saw Graham Hume trapped lbw by another sharp inswinger.
5 Wickets in 5 Balls continued when Campher completed his hat-trick on the first ball of his next over, as Andy McBrine mistimed a big shot and was caught at deep midwicket. He didn’t stop there.
5 Wickets in 5 Balls became reality when Robbie Millar was caught behind off a delivery that moved away slightly, and then Josh Wilson was bowled around his legs to end the innings. The five-ball stretch left the Warriors stunned and the crowd in awe.
“Because of the change of overs, I wasn’t really sure what was happening,” Campher said after taking 5 Wickets in 5 Balls. “I just stuck to my basics, kept things simple, and luckily it worked out.”
When asked if he thought a sixth wicket in six balls was possible, Campher laughed and said, “No, I don’t think so. It is what it is. I’m just happy to be out there enjoying the sun.” That moment of 5 Wickets in 5 Balls was enough to make cricket history.
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A Memorable Comeback After Injury
5 Wickets made Campher’s return to cricket even more special. This was only his second game after recovering from a finger injury that kept him out of action during the ODI and T20I series against West Indies. In his comeback match earlier this week against Leinster Lightning, he scored 57 off 35 balls, though he didn’t bowl.
5 Wickets in 5 Balls on Thursday came after another strong batting performance, where he smashed 44 runs from just 24 balls. His all-round effort gave Munster Reds a commanding position and marked his official return to top form.
“Performances aside, it’s just been really good to be around the boys,” Campher said while reflecting on his journey to 5 Wickets. “Injuries can be tough. You feel isolated, stuck in the gym, and it’s not easy mentally. So it’s been nice to come back, enjoy the weather, and be part of the team again.”
Campher said that pushing himself hard during recovery played a key role in delivering 5 Wickets in 5 Balls. “I’ve been putting pressure on myself to perform. That’s helped me focus and stay determined,” he added.
Interestingly, while Campher is the first male cricketer to take 5 Wickets in 5 Balls, he’s not the first ever. That honour belongs to Zimbabwe Women’s allrounder Kelis Ndhlovu, who achieved it in 2024 while playing for Zimbabwe U-19 against Eagles Women in a domestic T20 match.
5 Wickets in 5 Balls now adds another legendary chapter to Campher’s name. He was already in the elite group of bowlers to take four wickets in four balls in T20 Internationals, and this latest feat sets him apart.
As cricket fans and players around the world celebrate 5 Wickets, Campher’s five-ball masterclass will be remembered as one of the rarest and most thrilling moments in cricket history.
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