VSDCA 2023-24: Croydon’s Tom McQuinn takes 9-27 in rout of Endeavour Hills

Close, but not quite. A mighty wicket haul from Croydon’s Tom McQuinn had him on the cusp of a 50-year VSDCA first on Saturday in his side’s rout of Endeavour Hills.

Croydon’s Tom McQuinn took 9-27 on Saturday. The Cockies finished 3-114d and 0-14 against Hills’ 75 and 51. Picture: Steve Tanner

CROYDON’s Chris Brown owed great mate Tom McQuinn a beer on Saturday night.

McQuinn put on a clinic in his side’s 10-wicket rout of Endeavour Hills, taking 9-27 off 17 overs, falling just shy of all 10 scalps – a feat not seen at Subbies level in more than five decades.

Ripping through nine of Hills’ opening 10 – five of those ducks, one golden – and on the cusp of rare air, the paceman’s afternoon, and the match, finished as Brown claimed the final wicket, bowling and catching No. 11, Tallha Ahmed.

McQuinn would have become just the seventh Subbies player to toast 10 wickets in an innings – Williamstown’s Geoffrey Horsburgh the last to reach the milestone, with 10-26 in the 1972-73 season.

“I was actually hoping he (Brown) would get the wicket – I was absolutely buggered and I just wanted to get off to be honest!” McQuinn laughed.

“He bowled so well so he did deserve one in the end, but a few of the boys gave him a bit of stick in jest about it.”

Only Hills’ Madurawalage Jayasundera survived the blitz, with the No. 9 finishing on an unbeaten 11.

McQuinn said his golden run “all happened really quickly”, with his effort now a club-record for most wickets in an innings.

Snaring 3-31 on the first weekend of the two-day bout, his 12 scalps in a match sits second in club history.

“We took about 12 or 13 overs to get a wicket (on Saturday), so it was getting to that stage where I thought the bowling change was coming … then I was lucky enough to nip their opener off,” McQuinn said.

“Jack (Conroy), the skipper, said you’ve got a wicket, I’ll give a couple more (overs) and we’ll see how we go then we’ll look to change it, and it all happened from there.

“I grabbed another three wickets in the next 12 balls, and then he said you’re on a bit of a roll, so keep going.”

Croydon’s Chris Brown took 2-16 and 1-23 in the two-dayer. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Hand on heart, McQuinn said crushing a personal best or claiming a clean-sweep hadn’t ruled his thoughts once it became apparent it was no ordinary spell.

“It was a strange old feeling … I sort of got to five and thought ‘Browny’ is bowling that well and he’ll pick up a couple,” he said.

“I’ve got a couple of seven-fors in England and my best for the club was six-for-20-odd.

“We were looking at getting the outright win, so I was more focused on just making sure we didn’t get too carried away.

“A few of the boys were making jokes and comments, and it does cross your mind once people start to say it, but it was never something that was on my mind.”

As for ‘Browny’ shouting his great mate a beer?

“He looked after me,” McQuinn laughed.

TEN WICKETS IN AN INNINGS (VSDCA)

10-91 – Thomas Power (Kew) v. Brunswick, 1932-33

10-31 – Reginald Whitehead (Malvern) v. Port Melbourne, 1933-34

10-60 – E. Louis Carter (Brighton) v. Port Melbourne, 1958-59

10-52 – Rev. C. Fraser Withington (Hawthorn East Melbourne) v. Kew, 1962-63

10-36 – Ronald A. Gaunt (Yarraville) v. Kew, 1965-66

10-26 – Geoffrey R. Horsburgh (Williamstown) v. Malvern, 1972-73