Jess Jonassen’s all-round brilliance sinks UP Warriorz in match 5 of WPL 2023

Delhi batted first after losing the toss and put up an impressive 211 for 4 on the board. DC skipper Meg Lanning top-scored with 70 off 42 balls, a knock featuring 10 fours and three sixes. Towards the end of the innings Jess Jonassen and Jemimah Rodrigues (34 not out off 22) added an unbroken 67 for the fifth wicket to take DC past the 210-run mark. Shafali Verma (17) and Marizanne Kapp (16) fell cheaply, while Alice Capsey chipped in with a cameo of 21 in 10 balls.

In the chase of 212, UP Warriorz got off to a disastrous start. They lost skipper Alyssa Healy for 24, Kiran Navgire for 2 and Shweta Sehrawat for 1. By the fifth over, they had slumped to 31/3. There was no way back for UP from that point although Tahlia McGrath played a superb knock. She slammed an unbeaten 90 off 50, which included 11 fours and four sixes as UP finished on a decent 169 for 5.

Speaking after the game, Player of the Match Jonassen said her batting made the bigger difference on the day. She opined, “Tonight it was probably Jess the batter. Went for a few runs at the end (with the ball). I love batting. Nice that it came off tonight.”

On the surface in Navi Mumbai, she added, “The wicket was incredible. (On getting Healy out). She definitely hits me for quite a few sixes in the nets. Happy to get one over her. Always an enjoyable competition when we come up against one another.”

Delhi Capitals skipper Lanning added that her team has had a nice start to the tournament. Reflecting on DC’s performances so far, she commented, “Our batting has been great. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed batting here in India. So far so good. It’s not surprising (to see 200+ scores). Great advert for the game.

“Hope it continues. It’s been very enjoyable so far. Everyone’s very friendly. Great set-up here at Delhi Capitals,” she concluded.

Delhi’s next match will be against Mumbai Indians at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday, March 9.

–By A Cricket Correspondent