South African pacer Chad Laycock scripted history on Tuesday, October 13, becoming the first South African bowler to take five wickets in a single over in men’s T20 cricket. The KwaZulu-Natal Inland all-rounder achieved the feat against the Titans in the CSA T20 Challenge, finishing with career-best figures of 6 for 26 in four overs. He became only the fourth bowler known to have taken five wickets in an over in men’s T20 cricket.
Before Laycock, Bangladesh’s Al-Amin Hossain, India’s Abhimanyu Mithun and Indonesia’s Gede Priandana had achieved the feat. Al-Amin took five wickets in an over while playing for UCB-BCB XI against Abahani Limited in the 2013-14 Victory Day T20 Cup. Mithun followed in the 2019-20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy semi-final, achieving the feat for Karnataka against Haryana.
Priandana, meanwhile, accomplished the feat against Cambodia in December 2025, becoming the first bowler to take five wickets in an over in a T20 international, in either men’s or women’s cricket.
Despite Laycock’s remarkable spell, the Tuskers suffered a 21-run defeat. The Titans were cruising at 193 for 4 after 18 overs at the Pietermaritzburg Oval when Laycock returned to bowl the penultimate over. Having already claimed a wicket, he proceeded to dismantle the opposition’s lower order in sensational fashion.
Laycock first bowled Leus du Plooy before Dayyaan Galiem picked up two runs off the next delivery. He then dismissed Galiem, who was caught in the deep, before bowling Aphiwe Mnyanda, Janco Smit and Esosa Aihevba off successive deliveries. The four consecutive dismissals, following du Plooy’s wicket earlier in the over, completed his remarkable five-wicket haul.
The Titans were eventually bowled out for 204 in 19.5 overs. Lhuan-dre Pretorius top-scored with 81 off 36 balls, while Sinethemba Qeshile contributed 46 off 29 deliveries and Dewald Brevis made 33 off 24. Despite Laycock’s late burst, the Titans secured a 21-run victory.
WHO IS CHAD LAYCOCK?
Laycock’s achievement is particularly striking given his relatively low profile in senior cricket before the match. A product of KwaZulu-Natal cricket, the all-rounder began honing his skills at Glenwood High School in Durban, where he showed promise with both bat and ball while still in Grade 10.
In 2019, Laycock represented Railway Union Cricket Club in Ireland as part of a cricket exchange programme. He impressed during his stint with the club’s first XI, scoring 341 runs and taking 18 wickets. He also scored centuries for the club’s Under-17 and Under-19 teams and showcased his power-hitting ability by smashing six sixes in an over.
His performances earned him selection for the KwaZulu-Natal Under-17 team. Laycock has since progressed to senior domestic cricket, representing KwaZulu-Natal Inland, also known as the Tuskers.
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