STEEPLE Aston’s Andy Harris is celebrating a memorable ten-wicket haul in Australia after bowling the spell of his life.

The Great & Little Tew CC captain achieved the feat playing for Tasmanian club Burnie Hurricanes.

Harris took 10-32 in 17.3 overs to help the Hurricanes to victory on first innings over Sheffield Mountaineers in their Cricket North West (CNW) First Grade match at West Park Oval, Burnie.

The 26-year-old seamer said: “It was a surreal day that still hasn’t sunk in yet.

“There were four bowled and six caught, three at gully, one at slip, one by the keeper and one at point.

“I still didn’t think when I’d taken nine that I’d get all ten.

“I thought that there was bound to be a run out or the bowler at the other end would pick it up.”

Harris’s feat came after he got to play with Test legend Ricky Ponting to help launch a new ‘Aussie 15s’ format of the sport.

But his maximum haul, the first in Hurricanes’ 24-year history, represented a major breakthrough.

“My previous best was 6-51 for Tew in the Cherwell League versus Buckingham in 2011,” said Harris.

“When the last man was out, I just stood in the middle of the wicket with my arms in the air in disbelief before being swamped by my teammates.

“I’ve been bowling fairly consistently picking up one or two wickets each game, my best out here had been 3-30 from ten overs.”

Harris’s salvo saw Sheffield skittled for 85, but Burnie did not have enough time to force an outright victory in the two-day match, closing 11 runs short of the target on 52-4.

Harris’s dad Steve, who is an umpire, followed his son’s spell via ball-by-ball online updates after waking by chance early on Saturday morning.

“I’m really, really proud of him,” he said. “We knew the exact moment that he had done it,”

Harris jnr, who is also coaching with Cricket Tasmania, is one of four Tew players getting experience Down Under.

Harry Smith is playing for fellow CNW club Ulverstone, Josh Garrett is with Old Carey in Melbourne, while Curtly Slatter is at Temuka CC in Canterbury, New Zealand.

Harris’s form comes in stark contrast to England’s dismal efforts in the Ashes.

He said: “I have been following the Ashes closely and been getting plenty of stick from teammates and from school children when I’m going into schools with my coaching work for Cricket Tasmania.

“I bought tickets for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and never dreamt that the series would be done and dusted by then.”