New Zealand pacer Brett Randell created history on Sunday by becoming the first bowler to take five wickets with five consecutive deliveries in a first-class match.
Randell achieved the remarkable feat while representing Central Districts cricket team against Northern Districts cricket team in a Plunket Shield domestic match. Among his victims were former New Zealand national cricket team opener Jeet Raval and current seamer Kristian Clarke.
The rare achievement has previously been recorded only once in professional Twenty20 cricket, when former Ireland international Curtis Campher claimed five wickets in five consecutive balls during a domestic interprovincial match.
Randell began his remarkable spell by dismissing opener Henry Cooper with the final ball of his second over at McLean Park, a venue traditionally considered favourable for batting.
He then bowled Raval with the first delivery of his next over. Randell completed his hat-trick when Joe Carter was caught behind off the following ball, and secured a double hat-trick after Robbie O’Donnell was caught in the slips.
Clarke became his fifth victim after the ball deflected off an inside edge onto his leg stump.
At that stage, Randell had taken five wickets for just two runs, leaving Northern Districts reeling at 9-5 in response to Central Districts’ first-innings total of 373.
The 30-year-old eventually finished with impressive figures of 7-25 as Northern Districts were bowled out for 82. His previous best bowling performance in a first-class innings was 6-45.
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