Australian big-hitter Grace Harris showed her former teammates what they were missing by thumping a 40-ball 85 during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s convincing nine-wicket victory over the UP Warriorz in Navi Mumbai on Monday evening.
Tasked with chasing a modest 144-run target for victory, the Royal Challengers got the job done with 47 balls to spare courtesy of Harris’ blistering knock, which featured ten boundaries and five sixes.
The Queenslander combined with captain Smriti Mandhana, who notched an unbeaten 47 from 32 balls, for a 137-run opening partnership, setting a new franchise record.
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“It’s pretty difficult to stop Grace once she gets going,” Warriorz captain Meg Lanning admitted after the match.
“She hits to different areas. She has brute force but also plays good shots.”
The Warriorz released Harris following a disappointing 2025 campaign where they finished bottom of the Women’s Premier League standings, with the Australian snapped up by the Royal Challengers during the recent auction for ₹75 Lac (AU$142,000).
And it hasn’t taken long for the right-hander to show her former franchise the error of their ways.
“I’m really happy some of the work I have been doing with my batting is paying off,” Harris said after the win.
“It feels pretty good.”
Elevated to opener, Harris cracked a 12-ball 25 during Bengaluru’s season opener against reigning champions the Mumbai Indians, which the Royal Challengers won by three wickets. The 32-year-old typically bats in the middle order for Australia, but she has a superb record as an opener for the Brisbane Heat in the Women’s Big Bash League.
“We’re very clear about how dangerous she can be upfront,” Mandhana said of Harris’ promotion.
“If she gets going, she takes the game away from the opposition.
“All I need to do is take a single and she keeps going, she’s amazing to watch.”
Earlier on Monday, the Warriorz posted 5-143 courtesy of an unbeaten 93-run partnership between all-rounders Deepti Sharma and Deandra Dottin for the sixth wicket. The franchise collapsed to 5-50 in the ninth over following an economical opening spell from England seamer Lauren Bell, who finished with 1-16 from four overs, before Sharma (45 not out from 35 balls) and Dottin (40 not out from 37 balls) rebuilt the innings.
Former Australian skipper Lanning hit a sluggish 14 while young gun Phoebe Litchfield struck an 11-ball 20.
The Royal Challengers remain undefeated after two matches, while the Warriorz are still searching for their first victory of the season.
“Of course it’s not the start we wanted,” Lanning added.
“We never got going with the bat, too many dot balls upfront, myself included.
“We were outplayed tonight. Plenty to work on for us, but the games come thick and fast and we’ll move on pretty quick.”
The Royal Challengers will next face the undefeated Gujarat Giants at the same venue on Friday.
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