‘What is going on’: Cricket world loses it over ‘insane’ scenes
Andrew Reid
Ireland allrounder Curtis Campher has joined one of the most exclusive clubs in cricket history after taking a double hat-trick in his his side’s Twenty20 World Cup win against the Netherlands.
Campher became just the third player ever to take four wickets in four balls in a T20 international – matching the feat shared by Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan and Sri Lankan quick Lasith Malinga.
The Irishman finished with 4-26 as the Netherlands were bowled out for 106, with Campher’s men cruising to 3-107 with 29 deliveries remaining in their opening Group A match.
Opener Paul Stirling was not out 30 off 39 balls after sharing a 59-run fourth wicket stand with Gareth Delaney (44 off 29 balls).
Campher earlier tore apart the Dutch innings in a sensational over – much to his surprise.
The seamer revealed he did not think his bowling was going that well before the wickets started to tumble.
“To be honest I wasn’t feeling great out there with the ball and then a couple of guys have just said ‘crack it down the wicket here’ and thankfully I was able to do that,” he told Sky Sports.
“It (the wicket was) a little bit slow. Of course in the UAE it’s always going to be like that so it was just nice to come off here.”
The wickets all came in Campher’s second over as the Netherlands fell from 2-51 to 6-51.
He first had Colin Ackermann caught down the leg side after umpire Rod Tucker’s not out decision was overturned on a review.
Ryan ten Doeschate was then trapped in front before Ireland again had a Tucker decision overturned on review and Scott Edwards was given out LBW, ensuring Campher became the first Ireland player to complete a T20I hat-trick.
There was more joy for the 22-year-old Campher at the Zayed Cricket Stadium when Roelof van der Merwe dragged a seemingly innocuous delivery onto his stumps next ball.
“Curtis Campher what are you delivering? Are they cannonballs or cricket balls?” Indian broadcaster Harsha Bhogle said in commentary.
The extraordinary feat left the cricket world in a frenzy on social media.
The first member of the double hat-trick club was Malinga who took four wickets in consecutive balls twice – against South Africa in a 2007 one-day international and against New Zealand in a T20I in 2019. Leggie Rashid Khan achieved the feat against Ireland in a 2019 T20I.
The Netherlands held on to reach triple figures thanks to opener Max O’Dowd’s fighting 51 off 47 balls including seven fours and captain Pieter Seelaar’s 21. Ireland’s Mark Adair took 3-9 including two wickets in the last over.
