Ireland’s Curtis Campher made the headlines after he took four wickets in four balls in his team’s first match vs Netherlands. He became the second bowler in T20 World Cup to take a hat-trick and fourth to take four in four in T20I cricket.
The 22-year-old right-armer picked up Ackermann, ten Doeschate, Edwards, and van der Merwe in four consecutive balls in his second over and the tenth of the innings to put Ireland firmly in control and leave the Dutch 52/6. Akermann was caught behind by keeper Neil Rock, ten Doeschate and Edwards were trapped lbw while van der Merwe bowled as Campher made a huge impact.
Ireland bowlers restricted Netherlands to 106 in 20 overs. Later with excellent batting from Paul Stirling and Gareth Delany, Ireland chased down the total in the 16th over.
“I knew there was a glove on it, I heard a sound and thought it had to be the glove (On Ackermann’s review). I thought it was definitely hitting the leg stump and I said to Balb to please go upstairs (On Edwards’ review). To be honest I didn’t feel the best out there coming back from injury, tried to bang the wicket down and keep hitting the hard length, the first over didn’t go to plan but the skipper had the faith in me and it worked out well. The bowling department has been working hard; on the yorkers and change ups. Any day I don’t bat is a good day, this one to just knock off 6-10 runs was very nice,” said Campher at post-match presentation.
Brief scores:
The Netherlands 106 all out in 20 overs (Max O’Dowd 51, Pieter Seelaar 21. Curtis Campher 4/26, Mark Adair 3/9) lost to Ireland 107/3 in 15.1 overs (Paul Stirling 30*, Gareth Delany 44. Fred Klaassen 1/18).