Curtis Campher: "After my first over, I apologised"

NICK HOWSON: Ireland's record-breaking allrounder admits his "heart was racing quite high" as he lined up for his hat-trick ball against Netherlands

Ireland's Curtis Campher has revealed he was forced to apologise for a substandard bowling display before his record-breaking four wickets in successive deliveries inspired victory over Netherlands in the men's T20 World Cup in Abu Dhabi.

The 22-year-old claimed four wickets from consecutive balls in the 10th over, becoming the fourth player to achieve the feat in 20-over international cricket, joining Rashid Khan, Lasith Malinga and Anuradha Doddaballapur.

Campher was thrown the ball by captain Andrew Balbirnie after conceding 12 off his opening over, the joint-most the Dutch managed during their insipid innings of 106 all out.

And the allrounder admits he was keen to repay the faith shown in him by the skipper after a poor return from his first over, which included two fours and a wide.

"He's (Balbirnie) been around a while, been here a long time, and played a lot of tough cricket," he said.

"He just really knows us as bowlers, he leaves us alone and really does as little as possible.

"That really gives us a lot of freedom. He gives us the freedom to do what we want, and we make sure we have accountability for what we want to do. 

"After my first over, I apologised to him. He said, listen, mate, don't ever worry about it. Just come back again."

The first hat-trick by an Ireland player in an official T20I lay the platform for a critical Irish victory, which leaves them well placed in the group ahead of matches against Sri Lanka and Namibia.

After benefitting from Ackermann feathering the ball behind to wicketkeeper Neil Rock, two full and straight deliveries did for Ryan ten Doeschate and Scott Edwards.

"My heart was racing quite high, but I just took a few deep breaths at the top of my run and tried to make sure I managed my skills," Campher explained.

"Obviously, I didn't really -- after that over, I didn't really finish the last over as well as I wanted to, but I'm learning. I'm young. I'm just trying to do the best I can."

Campher returned with the bat to hit the winning run, as part of a run-a-ball seven, to secure the seven-wicket win.

He has been forced into watching brief for much of Ireland's World Cup preparations after undergoing ankle surgery earlier in the year.

"I think people take for granted if you play a long time," he said of the absence, which saw him miss seven matches against South Africa and Zimbabwe. "No one wants to have injuries but to bounce back and actually start enjoying my cricket.

"Just be grateful out there, whether I get hit for 60 or 70 or don't score a run, I'm just happy to be out there playing for my country."

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