In an extraordinary display of fast bowling, Indonesia’s Gede Priandana etched his name into the cricket record books on Tuesday, becoming the first bowler ever to claim five wickets in a single over in a Twenty20 International (T20I).
The 28-year-old seamer achieved the unprecedented feat against Cambodia in the series opener in Bali, single-handedly demolishing the opposition’s chase and sealing a 60-run victory for Indonesia.
The Over That Made History
With Cambodia at 106-5, needing 168 to win, Priandana was handed the ball for the 16th over. What followed was a seven-ball passage of play that swung the match irrevocably and created a global cricketing headline.
Priandana’s historic over unfolded as follows:
- Ball 1: Dismissed Shah Abrar Hussain.
- Ball 2: Dismissed Nirmaljit Singh.
- Ball 3: Dismissed Chanthoeun Rathanak (completing the hat-trick).
- Ball 4: Dot ball.
- Ball 5: Dismissed Mongdara Sok.
- Ball 6: Wide.
- Ball 7: Dismissed Pel Vennak.
In the space of seven deliveries, Priandana took five legitimate wickets, including a hat-trick, reducing Cambodia from 106-5 to 107 all out. The over single-handedly bundled out the Cambodian tail and secured the win for Indonesia.
The Record in Context
Priandana’s achievement stands alone in international T20 cricket. While there have been 14 instances of bowlers taking four wickets in an over in international matches—most famously Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga’s four-in-four against New Zealand in 2019—no one had ever taken five in a T20I.
The feat has only been matched in domestic T20 leagues, with Bangladesh’s Al-Amin Hossain and India’s Abhimanyu Mithun being the only other bowlers known to have achieved a five-wicket over in the T20 format.
A Landmark for Indonesian Cricket
Beyond the personal accolade, Priandana’s remarkable over is a landmark moment for Indonesian cricket, a nation not traditionally associated with the sport. This performance on the international stage brings significant attention to the growing cricketing landscape in Southeast Asia and highlights the talent emerging from developing nations.
The record will be a tough one to beat, requiring not just exceptional skill but also a perfect, rare alignment of circumstances. For now, Gede Priandana stands alone as the first and only bowler to have achieved this remarkable feat in a T20 International.
