Quartermaine, Miller fire as Harrismith record third win of season in run-fest against Towns

Harrismith remain in touch with the top four in the Upper Great Southern Cricket Association after they prevailed in a run-fest against Towns in round eight on Saturday. Jamie Miller and Arron Quartermaine led the way in the run chase as they steered their side to a seven-wicket victory on their home deck. Nick Corner starred with the bat for Towns but his side suffered their sixth loss of the season. Harrismith won their third game of the season to move within one game of the top four with one round to play before the mid-season break. Towns posted a competitive total of 8-215 batting first but Harrismith won with 12 overs to spare and for the loss of three wickets, in a match that consisted of 431 runs. Harrismith fell into early trouble in the chase at 2-37 after Towns captain Liam Sweeney removed both openers Caen Taylor and Matthew Orchard both for 10. However, Miller and Quartermaine were determined to get their side over the line and shared in a match-winning 169-run partnership. Ben March finally broke the partnership as he dismissed Quartermaine for 88 off 81 balls, that included 15 fours and two sixes. Harrismith needed just 11 runs for victory and Miller got his side across the line with a brilliant unbeaten knock. Miller made 93 not out from 88 balls with his blistering innings containing 13 fours and two sixes as Harrismith finished on 3-216 in 33 overs. Sweeney snared 2-25 from five overs for Towns. Earlier on Towns set their opponents 216 for victory after Corner belted 98 and had strong support from Sweeney and Kevin Atkinson. Corner and Atkinson added 63 runs together before Atkinson was removed for 33 but then Corner and Sweeney added a further 93 runs to put their side in a strong position. Sweeney was dismissed for 43 and that triggered a collapse as Towns lost 5-24. Rohan Bilney took 3-31 from his 10 overs, including the big wicket of Corner who fell just short of a century, while Matthew Orchard snared 2-40.