“You get into this rhythm and flow…” Curtis Campher takes us back to 2021 and that magical double hat-trick day

On a memorable afternoon at the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Abu Dhabi, Irish all- rounder Curtis Campher produced one of the most iconic spells in the history of the tournament. 

Facing the Netherlands in a crucial First Round fixture, Campher became the first, and till date the only player, in men’s T20 World Cup history to claim a double hat-trick or four wickets in four consecutive deliveries, finishing with figures of 4 for 26, as Ireland secured a commanding seven-wicket victory.

It’s not a surprise that Campher still counts that as one of his big career achievements. In a special interaction with ETPL, the 27-year-old South African born Irish cricketer talked about how he remembers the rhythm that he found with the ball that day.

“It’s one of those things where you kind of get on this roll where you just wanted to bowl and bowl and bowl. You get into this rhythm and flow, and all you want is the next ball because you feel like you’re on top and you’re going to get a wicket,” Campher, who made his international debut in 2020, said.

The spell unfolded with breathtaking speed. Colin Ackermann was the first to depart, edging behind to the wicketkeeper. The very next delivery trapped Ryan ten Doeschate leg before wicket. Hat-trick ball brought another LBW as Dutch captain Scott Edwards was pinned in front of his stumps, before Roelof van der Merwe was clean bowled to complete one of the most extraordinary passages of play ever witnessed at a T20 World Cup.

The burst dismantled the Netherland’s middle order in the space of four deliveries, swinging the match decisively in Ireland’s favour and ensuring Campher’s name would forever be etched in World Cup history.

One dismissal has since taken on an added layer of significance. Scott Edwards, the Dutch captain who became Campher’s hat-trick wicket, is now set to be his teammate at the Amsterdam Flames in the inaugural European T20 Premier League.

“Funny enough, one of the guys I dismissed is Scott Edwards, who I am going to be playing with, so that’s kind of cool,” Campher said. While the statistics tell the story of a historic spell, Campher believes moments like those are built on preparation and conviction.

“It gets to one of those stages where it doesn’t matter who’s coming in. You’ve got a plan, and you just feel like you’re going to get the better of them.”

He is equally aware, however, that cricket has a way of balancing fortunes.

“There are other days where you feel like, at the top of your mark, the batter’s got the better of you. That’s just the rub of the green with cricket, and you’ve got to take the rough with the smooth.”

As Campher prepares to represent the Amsterdam Flames in the inaugural ETPL season, his record-breaking spell remains one of the defining moments of modern Irish cricket. Four wickets in four balls were more than a statistical milestone—it was a demonstration of composure, planning and execution under the brightest lights. Years later, it still stands as one of the greatest spells in T20 World Cup history and a reminder of the quality European cricket continues to produce.

While other superstars of the game, like Lasith Malinga (twice), Rashid Khan and Jason Holder, amongst others have taken double-hat-tricks in international cricket, Curtis Campher is still the only one to record that feat in a T20 World Cup.