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March 8, 2026 3:35 PM

NEWS

Randell Makes History with Five Wickets in Five Balls in Plunkett Shield

Randell Makes History with Five Wickets in Five Balls in Plunkett Shield

Central Districts fast bowler Brett Randell etched his name into cricket history after claiming an unprecedented five wickets in five consecutive deliveries during a Plunkett Shield match against Northern Districts in Napier on Sunday.

Randell’s remarkable spell came on day two of the match and left Northern Districts in complete disarray. They collapsed from 4 without loss to 9 for 5 within the space of just five balls as Randell tore through the top order in a devastating burst of fast bowling.

The breakthrough came with the final delivery of Randell’s second over when he dismissed opener Henry Cooper. Bowling a late-swinging indipper, Randell shattered Cooper’s stumps after the batter shouldered arms.

With the first ball of his next over, Randell struck again, this time removing Jeet Raval as the ball crashed into the stumps. He then completed a hat-trick when Joe Carter edged behind to the wicketkeeper. The carnage continued when Robert O’Donnell nicked an outswinger to the slips, before Kristian Clarke became the fifth victim after edging a delivery onto his own stumps.

At that stage Randell’s extraordinary figures read 5 wickets for just 2 runs in 2.4 overs. He later extended his historic spell by becoming the first bowler in first-class cricket to take six wickets in eight deliveries.

Randell eventually finished with career-best figures of 7 for 25 from 11 overs, needing only 3.5 overs to claim his seven wickets. His devastating bowling helped dismiss Northern Districts for just 82, forcing them to follow on after Central Districts had posted 373 in their first innings.

Reflecting on the moment, Randell admitted he was stunned by the achievement.

“I’m pretty blown away. It was like a pinch-me moment,” he said, adding that he simply focused on bowling in the same area and sticking to the team’s plan rather than chasing wickets.

#Plunket Shield

#Brett Randell

#New Zealand

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