Harris hits third-fastest fifty as Bears and Blaze win

Laura Harris, the sensational Australian who made her Warwickshire Bears debut, made history by smashing her way into the record books with a comfortable victory over Durham.

Harris made her debut just six days after arriving in the UK to participate in the T20 Blast campaign, posting her 17-ball joint-third-fast half-century in women’s T20 history.

Only Marie Kelly, who reached 50 in 15 balls for Warwickshire against Gloucestershire in 2022, and Tess Flintoff, who reached 50 in 16 balls for Melbourne Stars against Adelaide Strikers in the same year, were better at producing the barnstorming performance.

Harris and Lizelle Lee tied for third place in 2019’s Surrey Stars when they face Lancashire Thunder in a 17-ball game, with three sixes and eight fours.

At Edgbaston, a target comfortably defended by captain Georgia Davis and her team, who won by 42 runs, fellow Bear Davina Perrin put together a 61-ball 87.

Suzie Bates, a top-ranked player from New Zealand, was the only other batter to score in double figures, with 45 off 28 balls coming from England.

After tied with The Blaze in their opening Blast game on Friday night, the Bears now have their first victory in the league.

The Nottinghamshire side also resurrended their campaign with a seven-wicket victory over Lancashire Thunder at Old Trafford in the Saturday’s other game.

With a 37-ball 59, Katie Mack gave Thunder a 169-4 lead in their 20 overs.

However, opener Georgia Elwiss, who had 53 in 43 balls and Kathryn Bryce, who had added more runs, kept Blaze in the lead on day 60 with a 29-ball 49, who had already scored 53 in 43 balls.