Unique Harris happy to do things her own way

Fair to say, there is no one in cricket quite like Grace Harris.

As she pummeled the Melbourne Renegades bowling attack in a blistering 27-ball 43 during Saturday’s semi-final – in front of a vocal local crowd at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field – the big-hitting Heat batter was far from overawed by the occasion.

Instead, Harris bopped along to the music playing over the loudspeaker between overs and cracked jokes with opposition players – even offering suggestions as to how to get her sister and teammate Laura out.

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"I'm pretty relaxed anyway and I play my best cricket relaxed," Harris said after the Heat sealed a four-wicket win.

"I try and enjoy the background and the crowd when I switch off, and then when I face up I switch back on again and concentrate on the ball. 

"I try not to over think it too much. I'm more of an instincts batter."

It remains to be seen how that went over with batting partner Jess Jonassen during their 80-run stand, but on Saturday at least, Harris’ approach worked.

"I have a set game plan and the rest of the time I just want to talk rubbish and have a laugh and then it seems to work," she said.

"I was doing that to (Jonassen) and she was like 'play straight' and 'play this bowler here' … and I was like 'okay whatever, I'll just do me and you do you'."

Although 26-year-old Harris did admit she may owe Laura an apology, after her older sister was dismissed for a duck by Renegades’ off-spinner Molly Strano.

In her defence, the chase was well in hand at that point, with the Heat requiring just 19 from 29.

"(Molly) Strano asked me how to get my sister out so I probably owe her a drink later on, because I said stay over the wicket," she laughed.

Harris has not quite hit the heights of previous seasons this tournament, averaging 19.18 without scoring a half-century.

It has seen her slip further down the Heat batting order, replaced by New Zealand import Maddy Green and allrounder Jess Jonassen in the top order, but Harris could not have timed her return to form better.

Her blazing knock ensured the Heat’s pursuit of the Melbourne Renegades’ 4-163 rarely looked in danger, peppering the bumper Allan Border Field crowd with four sixes.

Now she has the Strikers in her sights, with Brisbane to meet Adelaide at AB Field in Sunday’s final in their bid for back-to-back titles.   

Just don’t expect her to be losing sleep tonight, plotting ways to take on the likes of Sophie Devine and Megan Schutt.

"I might have some ice-cream tonight," she said.

"I might chill with Dorrie (her dog) … I’ll switch off and watch some TV and movies."