Jasprit Bumrah who? New Zealand’s Brett Randell takes 5 wickets in 5 balls, creates 254-year history

Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 final between India and New Zealand in Ahmedabad on March 8, a Kiwi domestic star shocked the entire cricket world on Sunday. Brett Randell produced a spell that had never been seen in the long history of first-class cricket.

The pacer has created a world record that was untouched for more than two centuries with a magical spell for the Central Districts cricket team against the Northern Districts cricket team in the Plunket Shield clash at McLean Park on Sunday.

New Zealand's Brett Randell stunned the cricket world with a never-before-seen 5 wickets

He destroyed the Northern Districts’ batting line-up within minutes and became the first bowler in the game of cricket ever to take five wickets in five balls in first-class cricket.

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It is being said that this feat had never happened in first-class cricket since the earliest recorded matches in 1772. For more than 250 years, no bowler had managed to achieve five wickets in five balls in red-ball cricket at any level.

5 WICKETS IN 5 BALLS!!! A Triple Hat Trick for Brett Randell for the Central Stags! pic.twitter.com/wz4GhnBhiy

— The ACC (@TheACCnz) March 8, 2026

How devastation unfolded

The devastation started when Randell knocked over opener Henry Cooper with the final ball of his second over. The next over left everyone stunned as the pacer removed former New Zealand batter Jeet Raval and then took three wickets on the three deliveries.

Randell completed the unbelievable triple hat trick when he bowled out all-rounder Kristian Clarke to seal the historic five wickets in five deliveries. The pacer was not finished yet. The 30-year-old fast bowler came back in his next over and scalped two more wickets to end with a stunning 7/25.

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His deadly spell crushed Northern Districts after Central Districts had earlier piled up 373 runs. Interestingly, something similar had been seen in the shorter format recently when Ireland star Curtis Campher picked five wickets in five balls in a T20 match.

But Randell’s achievement is even more special because it has come in first-class cricket, making it one of the rarest and most unbelievable bowling performances ever seen in the sport.

'Underdog' New Zealand ready to shock 'favourites' India in T20 World Cup 2026 final

Meanwhile, the big day has finally arrived as India and New Zealand prepare to battle in the final of the T20 World Cup 2026. Many felt India was the strong favorite, while New Zealand was once again being seen as the underdog.

And the New Zealand head coach Rob Walter is fully aware of the tag and knows exactly how big this moment is. Walter was quoted as saying by NZC: “I think we are so used to being called underdogs, to be fair... we have fewer [number of] players, we have fewer financial resources, we have less of most things, to be fair. Probably everything when [compared to] India. But I suppose what we do have as a team is this sort of understanding that it's a collective effort.”

This is the second straight time he is standing in the dugout during a T20 World Cup final. The last time Walter was guiding South Africa, but that final ended in heartbreak against India. However, this time, the coach believes that “we could do something special.”