He was believed to be the fifth person to have achieved the feat in cricket right around the world.
But after a morning's research from cricket statisticians Francis Payne and Steve Davie yesterday, it appears Wagner is in a league of his own.
Records show four others who have taken five wickets in six balls but Davie said after their investigation yesterday, they believed Wagner had ventured into uncharted territory.
Looking through old Wisden cricket almanacs, the pair found the other four feats were not achieved in the same over.
"Wagner took his five wickets in six balls in the same over. That is a world first," Davie said.
"There are certainly four others who have taken five wickets in six balls, but their hauls were all spread across two or more overs and, in two cases, over two innings."
Davie said the records of the other four players to take five wickets in six balls were. -
• Pat Pocock (Surrey v Sussex at Eastbourne, 1972) took three wickets in one over and four more in his next, taking in all seven wickets with 11 balls, a feat unequalled in first-class matches. Five wickets fell in that second over, one of them to a run-out.
• William Henderson (NE Transvaal v Orange Free State, Bloemfontein, 1937-38) finished with seven wickets for four runs, his five wickets in six balls spread over two overs. Only three wickets fell at the same score.
• Former Otago bowler Yasir Arafat (Rawalpindi v Faisalabad, 2004-05) took four wickets in five balls to end Faisalabad's innings (two wickets, a no ball, and then two more wickets) and a further wicket with his first ball in the second innings.
• Bill Copson (Derbyshire v Warwickshire at Derby in 1937) took his five wickets from six balls which were spread over three overs and two innings.
Wagner's feat was truly remarkable and successfully ended a great season for the left-armer, where he picked up 51 wickets.
Canterbury's win yesterday and rain ending play in Napier in the match between Auckland and Central Districts led to Otago actually finishing second in the Plunket Shield after its outright win over Wellington on Wednesday.
