“She makes cricket look pretty easy at the moment…” That was the summation of Grace Harris’ brilliance with the bat by her Australia and UP Warriorz captain Alyssa Healy after Warriorz’s six–wicket win over the Gujarat Giants on Friday, March 1.
Three 50-plus scores in as many matches against the Giants across the two editions of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) lends credence to Healy’s claim, more so when viewed in the light of the crucial victory Grace Harris’ 33-ball unbeaten 60 helped seal on Friday evening at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. “Full credit to her that she batted outstanding again tonight,” Healy told the host broadcaster at the post-match presentation.
Harris’ efforts kept the Giants winless in the ongoing edition of the WPL from their three appearances so far and lifted the Warriorz to No. 3 on the points table. The 30-year-old reaped great dividends personally, too, as she became the latest recipient of the Orange Cap, after surpassing the Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Smriti Mandhana as the leading run-getter of the tournament, making 153 runs from three innings at WPL 2024.
“One ball at a time really,” Harris said was the mantra of her success after bagging the Player of the Match Award. “I try not to get too flustered or frustrated out there. And as I've gotten a bit older, I've learned to control my emotions or, if I've ever felt nervous, just go back to the basics and watch the ball hard and then hit that, and I think it's working for me at the moment.”
Usually an opener in the Women's Big Bash League in (WBBL) in Australia, Harris bats in the middle order for Australia and the Warriorz. Her ability to anchor the chase while bringing out the big shots at will has been key to the fortunes of the Warriorz, who finished in the top three in the league stage last season before Mumbai Indians dumped them out in the Eliminator.
“I'm really enjoying it with the UP Warriorz, really embracing my role in the middle order and I'm just trying my hardest to win games for the team or get us into a winning position,” Harris said. “So I'm really enjoying it. And, I love India.”
On Friday, in what was their fourth game this season, Harris strung two important partnerships. First, with WPL debutant Chamari Athapaththu for the third wicket which was worth 36 runs, and then with left-hander Deepti Sharma, with whom she put on 53 unbroken runs off 30 balls for the fifth wicket.
“Deepti and I -- we've come together a couple of times now in some bigger partnerships,” Harris said. “So, I guess the left-hand-right-hand [combination] also helps, I guess. You can put bowlers off their lines, and Deepti -- she's sticking to her strengths and we bat a little bit differently. So, I think we complement each other very well, which probably helps the partnership.”
If the Warriorz are to make the playoffs for a second straight season, much of their chances will depend on how Harris keeps doing the heavylifting in their middle order with oodles of pluck, brawn and her trademark ingenious strokeplay.
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