WATCH: Australia's Grace Harris smashes six with broken bat en route to register highest score in WBBL history

Match 5 of Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) 2023 witnessed a high-scoring thriller between Perth Scorchers and Brisbane Heat. Opening batter Grace Harris laid the groundwork for Heat's 50-run win at the North Sydney Oval in Sydney on Sunday, October 22. The Australian power-hitter smashed 136 off 59 balls - the highest-ever score in WBBL history. 

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However, what caught the attention of cricket fans more than her carnage was hitting a six with a broken bat. After being asked to bat first, Brisbane Heat posted a massive total of 229/7 in 20 overs. In addition to Harris' unbeaten century, South Africa's Mignon du Preez also played a brilliant cameo (39 off 23 balls) to take the team's total past 200.

After losing two early wickets, Harris and du Preez added a 90-run partnership for the third wicket. The latter departed in the 12th over, after which Heat continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. However, Harris hangs on at the other end, smashing around the park. The 30-year-old hit 12 fours and 11 sixes en route to a record-breaking innings. 

Meanwhile, before the second ball of the 15th over, the Aussie cricketer can be heard on the stump mic asking for a new bat. "I need a new bat," she told Bess Heath, who was on the non-striker's end. The all-rounder, however, decided to play on, saying, "Nah, stuff it. I'll hit it anyway". Interestingly, that delivery was her fourth six of the innings, but the bat broke into two pieces. 

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Watch the video here: 

🗣️ "I need a new bat... nah, stuff it. I'll hit it anyway"

Absolute gold from Grace Harris 😂 #WBBL09 pic.twitter.com/ALTwrJOWRH

— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) October 22, 2023

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In reply to Heat's 230 target, Lauren Winfield-Hill and Beth Mooney started off strongly for Scorchers. The opening partnership was broken in the sixth over as Courtney Sippel got rid of Winfield-Hill. Mooney's brilliant half-century (60 off 30 balls) and Amy Jones' 30 off 17 balls gave some hope. However, Heat bowlers picked up wickets at regular intervals and eventually restricted them to 179/8 in 20 overs. Sippel was the pick of the bowlers as he took four wickets conceding 27 runs in four overs.