30-year-old seam bowler Brett Randell of New Zealand delivered an exceptional spell in cricket history after taking five wickets in five consecutive deliveries during a Plunket Shield match.
Randell, a bowler for Central Districts, achieved this remarkable feat on the second day of the match against Northern Districts, becoming the first bowler in the 254-year history of first-class cricket to achieve this extraordinary milestone.
This led to a dramatic collapse to the batting line-up of Northern Districts, who saw a fall from four runs without loss to nine for five in a space of just five deliveries, instantly shifting the momentum of the match. Randell’s spell was devastating for the opposite team but historic, special and astonishing for the crowd and himself.
Randell struggled to believe what he had done. Reflecting on the moment, he said: “I’m pretty blown away. The high was pretty crazy, it was like a pinch-me moment.” This historic feat helped him record his best bowling figures, with seven wickets for 25 runs in 11 overs. Continuing his dominance, he went on to dismiss Ben Pomare to claim six wickets in just eight deliveries.
Similar achievements have been recorded in other formats of the game. In July 2025, Curtis Campher an international cricketer from Ireland took five wickets in five balls in a professional match during a domestic T20 game.
Zimbabwe Women’s all-rounder Kelis Ndhlovu had also previously achieved this milestone in a U-19 domestic T20 Competition in 2024.
Randell’s achievement has set a new benchmark for bowling in first-class cricket, presenting a new challenge that many bowlers will now attempt to surpass.
Such extraordinary achievements also highlight the importance of domestic cricket competitions like the Plunket Shield, where many players continue to produce remarkable results away from the international spotlight.
Moments like these perfectly reflect the evolving nature of cricket. With the sport growing across various formats such as T20 cricket and first-class cricket, Randell’s achievement is a reminder that records can be broken, made, and new legends can emerge from unexpected places.
Photo by Sudhakar Chandra on Unsplash.