Corner gets Towns to flag
Towns claimed the 2018-2019 UGSCA A-grade premiership in spectacular fashion at home on Saturday, holding off last year’s premiers Harrismith in a tense, low-scoring match.
Harrismith batted first at Clayton Road Oval in the decider but quickly found themselves in trouble after Scott Bayley (3) edged the ball to the safe hands of Adrian Dabinett off Scott Fowler’s delivery.
Captain Arron Quartermaine was at the crease earlier than he hoped after Bayley’s wicket, as Harrismith sat 1-3 in the second over.
Despite conceding two boundaries in his first over, Max Evans (1-23 off nine) was tight as the first change in attack.
Along with Kendal Ballard (0-20 off eight), the pair restricted the visitors’ run rate, while Evans made a breakthrough in the 12th over, claiming Quartermaine’s (15) wicket, caught behind.
Nick Corner and Ben Mcmillan took over bowling duties next from Evans and Ballard.
Facing a dismal total, at 2-71 after 25 overs, Harrismith batsmen Jamie Miller and Caen Taylor went after the change in bowling attack.
But Corner made another breakthrough for Towns, collecting Miller’s (43) wicket in his second over.
Three overs later, McMillan sent danger man Taylor (37) back to the pavilion.
Corner went on to dismantle Harrismith’s middle order and tail, taking another five wickets for 23 runs off 7.2 overs.
Harrismith were all out for 125 after 41.1 overs.
Harrrismith needed only nine balls to find their first wicket, with Adam Gray dismissing Peter Kirby for a duck.
Corner joined his skipper, Perrin Quartermaine, at the crease, and together they added 34 runs to the scoreboard.
After Quartermaine (15) was trapped lbw by Arron Quartermaine, Corner again stood up for his club.
Corner added 40 runs to Towns’ chase, dismissed by Dan Bayley in the 25th over, placing the home side on 4-62, after Bayley also claimed the wicket of Ballard (3) in the 16th over.
Quick consecutive middle-order wickets to Mathew Orchard had Towns in trouble, requiring 49 runs off 12 overs with four wickets in hand. However Robert Rybarczyk (17no) and Scott Langford (29no) combined for a 49-run partnership, ensuring a Towns win, reaching their 126 target with nine balls remaining in the season.
Corner was named man of the match for his six-wicket and 40-run effort.
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