Ireland all-rounder Curtis Campher smashed one of cricket’s most enduring records yesterday as he saw Munster Reds to victory in their last game of the Interpro Twenty20 Trophy.

The North West Warriors were rocking on 87-5 with more than 100 needed to win off eight overs. Campher, in only his second match back from a finger injury which forced him to miss Ireland’s series against West Indies last month, bowled Jared Wilson and Graham Hume for ducks to finish his second over. 

When he came back on for his third over he immediately dismissed Andy McBrine for 29 to complete his hat-trick. He was followed in rapid succession by Robbie Millar and Josh Wilson, an unprecedented five wickets in five balls for Campher, who said: ‘I didn’t even know I was on a hat trick. I’d almost forgotten because of the change of over!’

In 250 years of first-class cricket no man had ever done better than four in four — more than 110,000 games of top level cricket in all formats.

It is not unknown territory for Campher, who took four wickets in four balls in a T20 World Cup match against Netherlands in Abu Dhabi in 2021.

He had earlier made 44 as Reds posted 188-7, with his captain PJ Moor making 35 on what he later announced was his last game. Leinster Lightning completed their title winnings campaign with a two-wicket win.

Northern Knights made 187-9, with Gavin Hoey taking 4-27. But despite a fine 85  by Tim Tector, wickets fell regularly before Josh Little hit his first ball for six to win with four balls to spare.