New Delhi, March 8: Brett Randell etched his name into cricket history after becoming the first bowler in the 254-year history of first-class cricket to claim five wickets in five consecutive deliveries during a domestic match in New Zealand.
The 30-year-old achieved the remarkable feat while playing for the Central Stags against Northern Districts on the second day of their Plunket Shield encounter.
Randell began the extraordinary spell with the final delivery of his second over before striking four more times at the start of his next over, leaving Northern Districts reeling at 9 for 5 after being 4 without loss. The right-arm medium pacer had figures of 5-2 at that stage.
He continued the devastating run by claiming another wicket with the first ball of his following over, making it six wickets in just eight deliveries. Randell later added another dismissal to finish with outstanding figures of 7 for 25.
Reflecting on the historic moment, Randell admitted he was stunned by the achievement.
“I’m pretty blown away. It felt like a pinch-me moment,” he said. “I was just trying to stay level-headed and keep bowling in the same area. After the hat-trick, the plan was still the same — keep sticking to the basics.”
The bowler also revealed he was unaware at the time that he had become the first player to accomplish the feat in first-class cricket.
“I had no idea it had never happened before in first-class cricket. That makes it seriously cool,” he added.
While Randell’s achievement is the first of its kind in first-class cricket, similar feats have occurred in other formats. Curtis Campher of Ireland took five wickets in five balls during a domestic T20 match in 2025, becoming the first male cricketer to do so in professional cricket. Earlier, Kelis Ndhlovu of Zimbabwe had taken five wickets in five balls in a women’s under-19 domestic T20 match in 2024.
Randell’s extraordinary spell, however, now stands as a unique landmark in the long history of first-class cricket. (Agencies)
