Watch: ‘Stuff It, I’ll Still Hit It’ – Grace Harris’ Bat Breaks Mid-Shot, Still Manages ‘Extraordinary’ Six

Watch: At the 2023/24 Women’s Big Bash League, Grace Harris’ bat snapped into two. The ball still went for six.

Brisbane Heat’s Grace Harris hit 136 not out off 79 balls against Perth Scorchers in the opening WBBL match at North Sydney Oval. This is currently the highest score in WBBL history and will never surpass Smriti Mandhana’s 114 points.

Harris joins Sophie Devine in WBBL’s 300-strong team. Alyssa Healy (age 5) is the only one with centuries in the history of the sport.

Harris’ 11 sixes also set a new tournament record. She beat Gardner’s previous best 10 in Ash in 2017. Of her 11 hits, she had one, and the one from a clearie in the 14th over was outstanding.

At this point, Harris was hitting 64 of 26 pitches. Harris probably noticed something was wrong with the meadow when Cleary ran to the bowl. The stump microphone caught her muttering, “Hey, I need a new bat.”

Nonetheless, she decided to continue as she prepared the ball (“Stop it, I’ll hit it anyway”). She bowled clearly to the slot outside the off-stump and as Harris swung his bat the blade left the handle and rolled towards short mid-wicket.

However, Harris’ power was so great that the ball flew six meters beyond the jumping long-on fielder.

Mignon du Preez’s 27-ball 39 helped Brisbane finish with 229-7, the second highest score in WBBL history after Sydney Sixers’ 242-4 in 2017.

Beth Mooney got Perth off to a good start with a 30-ball 60, and Courtney Grace Sippel (4-27) held Perth to 179-8. Harris fired Amy Jones.

Watch Grace Harris’ bat-breaking six:

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