LAURA Harris was described as ‘world class’ after an incredible 16-ball half century against Durham in the women’s Vitality Blast.
Harris introduced herself to Edgbaston in style as Bears beat Durham by 42 runs.
That followed their thriling tied game at Nottingham Outlaws on Friday.
The new Australian signing Harris smashed 55 from 21 balls to support Davina Perrin’s classy 87 from 61 as the home side piled up 193 for six.
Durham replied with 151 all out in 19 overs, their Blast campaign destined to start with defeat after their reply rapidly declined to 15 for three.
Suzie Bates (65, 41) and Bess Heath (45, 38) assured respectability for their side, but Georgia Davis took three for 27 to seal Bears’ women’s first win of the tournament.
Perrin told the Bears’ official website: Warwickshire batter Davina Perrin said, “It always helps when you’ve got quality batters at the other end, and certainly when you have the likes of world-class Laura Harris.
“It definitely helps to have her words with you at the crease and the intent that she showed was really beneficial for myself and the team.
“Batting in pairs and building partnerships is so key and being able to read the game well and go through the gears at the right time is very important. That’s what we tried to do.
“We weren’t aiming for 190. We just started with assessing the conditions and going from there. There was a point with three overs to go when I thought 200 might be on, but 190 was a pretty strong total and then the bowlers did really well. We took some early wickets and defended it well.
“I was very happy with my innings, my highest so far in professional T20.”
After choosing to bat, Warwickshire were given an excellent platform by Perrin and Abbey Freeborn. Restricted to just a single from the first over from Lauren Filer, they worked the ball around intelligently to add 70 from 57 balls.
Freeborn departed after Filer turned in her follow-through and threw down the stumps as the batter sought a single. It was excellent work from the bowler, but she soon wished she hadn’t bothered. Nineteen minutes later, the new batter had 50.
Harris got off the mark with a straight six off Katie Levick, followed that with successive fours and then swung a Filer full toss over the long leg rope to thunder to 25 from eight balls. Her third six, smote straight off Levick, raised her half-century from 16.
Even after Harris was slickly stumped by Heath off Bates, there was little respite for Durham as Perrin took three fours and a six off a Mady Villiers over. A deserved century beckoned for Perrin, but she spent much of the closing overs at the non-striker’s end before, having hit 12 fours and two sixes, she fell to a stinging return catch by Bates in the final over.
Durham’s reply started badly when Katherine Fraser edged the third ball, from Issy Wong, to wicketkeeper Freeborn. Wong struck again with her seventh ball when Hollie Armitage missed an attempted scoop off middle stump and was lbw. It was 15 for three after Mady Villiers drove Charis Pavely straight to extra cover.
There was no way back from there. Bates and Heath added 80 from 64 balls, but the required rate hit 11 runs per over, and Warwickshire captain Davis exploited the pressure with two wickets in four balls. Heath and Mia Rogers were bowled and stumped, respectively, after missing slogs.
Bates accelerated boldly, but when she missed a scoop and was lbw to Hannah Baker, the tail was left to find 51 from the last three overs – but that proved too tall an order.
