NewKerala.com

Brett Randell's Historic 5 Wickets in 5 Balls Stuns Cricket World

New Zealand cricketer Brett Randell has etched his name into the record books by achieving a world-first in first-class cricket: taking five wickets with five consecutive deliveries. His incredible spell of 7-25 for the Central Stags decimated the Northern Districts batting lineup, reducing them to 9/5 at one stage. Randell's feat, which included a hat-trick, is only surpassed in Stags' history by a single nine-wicket haul from 1966. The bowler described the experience as a surreal "pinch-me moment," unaware he had made global history until after the achievement.

Key Points: Brett Randell Takes 5 Wickets in 5 Balls in First-Class Cricket

  • Historic first-class cricket world-first
  • Seven wickets for 25 runs
  • Wickets fell in a single session
  • Eighth hat-trick in Stags' history
2 min read

'It was like a pinch-me moment', says NZ's Brett Randell after scripting FC history with '5 wickets in five balls'

NZ's Brett Randell makes cricket history with a world-first feat of five wickets in five consecutive balls during a Plunket Shield match.

"It was like a pinch-me moment. - Brett Randell"

Napier, March 8

Brett Randell has made world first-class cricket history by taking five wickets in five balls, among a career-best haul of 7-25 for Central Stags' during a Plunket Shield match against Northern Districts at McLean Park.

Randell first bowled Henry Cooper on the last ball of his second over. In his next over, he dismissed former New Zealand Test opener Jeet Raval. He then claimed a hat-trick with Joe Carter caught behind. His fourth wicket camw when Robert O'Donnell edged Randell's outswinger to Curtis Heaphy in the slips.

Randell then added a fifth wicket in five balls to his tally when Kristian Clarke flirted at a delivery well outside off, got a thin inside-edge with the ball bouncing back onto his stumps and disturbing his leg bail.

Only spinner Bryan Yuile (9-100 in 1966) has taken a better first-class bag for the team, but Randell's feat, with all seven wickets falling in the same session -- Day Two of the sixth round match at McLean Park against Plunket Shield leader Northern Districts -- will go down in history for the one-of-a-kind first-class hat-trick.

Randell's first five wickets had Northern Districts reeling at 9/5 - and at one point he himself was sitting on figures of 7/4. He claimed just the eighth hat-trick in Stags first-class cricket, and helped to dismiss Northern Districts for just 82. Stags captain Tom Bruce then enforced the follow on with a lead of 291, after having been sent in on the previous sunny morning in Napier.

"I'm pretty blown away," said Randell during the tea break. "The high was pretty crazy, it was like a pinch-me moment. I was trying to stay level-headed and keep putting the ball in the same area and then after the actual hat-trick, just the same things - trying to put the ball in the same area."

"It gets drummed into us a lot that we don't want to go searching for wickets, so I was trying to just keep bowling the same ball, and our "Plan A" that we'd talked about, and it came off. I had no idea that it was the first time it [five wicket in five balls in first-class cricket] had happened in the world, it's seriously cool. I mean, I don't really have any words at the moment, to be honest. I'll take it," he added.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Amazing bowling, but let's not forget the batting collapse. 9/5 is a nightmare scoreline. The mental pressure on the next batter facing that fifth ball must have been immense. Great display of fast bowling, but the batting side will have some serious introspection to do.
A
Aman W
World first! That's history made in Napier. We always talk about Anil Kumble's 10-wicket haul, but this is a different kind of record - sheer consecutive destruction. Hope someone makes a highlight reel, would love to watch each of those five balls.
S
Sarah B
His quote about sticking to 'Plan A' is the real lesson here. So often bowlers try too much when they get a wicket or two. This shows the value of consistency and patience. A masterclass in bowling psychology as much as skill.
K
Karthik V
Jeet Raval was one of the wickets! He's a proper Test player. To get him in that sequence makes it even more special. Randell must be on cloud nine. Hope he gets a call-up to the national side soon, New Zealand could use a bowler with this kind of fire.
N
Nikhil C
While this is fantastic, it does highlight how first-class cricket outside the big nations doesn't always get the spotlight it deserves. This is a world record! Imagine if this happened in the County Championship or the Ranji Trophy – the coverage would be everywhere.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50