On Saturday, Mooroopna B-grade bowler Paul Marshall walked off the park veiled in glory, for he had just taken nine wickets in a single innings against Karramomus.
Marshall, the 2016-17 Lightfoot medallist, left with figures of 9-17 off 11.3 overs from day one of a two-dayer against the Bloods.
It equals Mooroopna’s club record alongside Terry Cain’s 9-17 in the 1997-98 A-Reserve season.
His wrecking spell included four leg-before-wickets, five straight bowled send-offs and a hat-trick — the first of his career — to boot.
Marshall was oh-so modest when revisiting his nine-for, citing luck and momentum as key in helping him put Karramomus to the sword and set the platform for a 147-run lead going into day two.
“I suppose sometimes you just have those good days, it just rolls your way. It started good and then just continued on I guess,” he said.
“We probably got lucky with the conditions early and the rub of the green fell my way.
“We were on top early and we tried to continue that ... I was lucky enough to get a hat-trick as well, so that got us up and about and momentum just kept rolling on.”
Marshall’s day out is now etched in Mooroopna’s annals among astounding company.
He stands in front of a quartet of others, becoming the fifth club man to take nine poles in an innings alongside Tim O’Brien (9-42), Daniel Emmi (9-45), David McPherson (9-50) and Cain.
What’s more, he could’ve had all 10.
After removing the first three wickets, the veteran right-arm quick dove down to take a screaming one-handed catch at second slip.
There’s a world where Marshall spills the grab and goes on to reap a clean sweep, but when asked if he regretted holding on and seeing an elusive 10-wicket haul dissolve with it, he was firm in response.
“No, not at all,” he said.
“We probably only had them two down at the time and then took that catch to get them three down, then proceeded to go my way after that I guess.
“I’m just happy to contribute and we put ourselves in a strong position.”
Prior to Saturday, Marshall’s career-best figures were 8-28.
He was ranked the 13th most lethal bowler of the 2010s in the Cricket Shepparton ranks, taking 131 of his 263 total wickets in the past decade.
Marshall has undoubtedly had a glittered career on the oval, but he rightly placed Saturday’s experience near the top of the pile when talking about his favourite moments.
“I’ve certainly had some good times on a cricket field, but to get 9-17, be involved in the other one, get a hat-trick, it’s certainly not something I expected at the start of the day.”
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