Captain Meg Lanning snapped her second straight half-century and Jess Jonassen produced an all-around show as Delhi Capitals flexed their batting muscle for a 42-run win over UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League here on Tuesday. Lanning led from the front with an entertaining 42-ball 70 as Delhi Capitals once again flaunted their firepower to reach 211 for four against the UP Warriorz after being brought up to bat. Jess Jonassen, who hammered an unbeaten 42 from 20 balls, returned to take three wickets which closed the door on the UP Warriorz, who finished on 169 for five in 20 overs.
Tahlia McGrath delayed the inevitable with a full 90 shots from 50 balls, the highest individual score in the WPL thus far.
It was Delhi’s second win in as many games, while the Warriorz suffered their first loss of the inaugural season.
Warriorz were unable to recover from Jonassen’s double strike in the fourth over as they took out rival captain Alyssa Healy (24 of 17 balls) and Kiran Navgire (2). The left arm spinner beat Healy out of flight and caught her at one point before Navgire went down at full speed.
India’s Under-19 star Shweta Sehrawat (1) struggled in her six-ball stay and was caught behind Marizanne Kapp, leaving Warriorz on 31 for three.
Warriorz made a questionable call to sideline Grace Harris, who had won them the match against Gujarat Giants, for Shabnim Ismail’s extra pace. Although Ismail was the best bowler on the show, Harris’s great batting prowess was lost in the run chase.
Earlier, Lanning stole the show in the first half of Delhi’s innings, while fellow Australian Jonassen raged on death passes to ensure Delhi crossed the 200-run mark for the second time in as many games.
Delhi snapped 65 runs in the last five overs with Jonassen receiving good support from Jemimah Rodrigues (34 not from 22 balls).
UP Warriorz opted to field, thinking the surface would suit pacers early on, but Delhi were able to negate that threat to post a challenging total.
Lanning and fellow opener Shafali Verma (17 for 14) shared 67 runs off 39 balls with the captain doing most of the damage.
Ismail managed to get the ball moving in his opening spell, but was unlucky to take a wicket. You knew it was Lanning’s day as even his mistakes went all the way. His innings consisted of 10 fours and three sixes.
With Ismail driving the ball away, Lanning went for the quick movement of a full ball, but got a leading edge that went over the pitcher’s head for the first six of the game.
Lanning’s second six came off Ismail again as he missed a jerk past the spindly-legged fielder.
The inspiring Australian captain was brilliant with her backwards play on either side of the wicket with the cut and jerk an integral part of her game.
He reached his second successive half-century with a sweep from Sophie Ecclestone. It was a top trim that went over the rear boxy fence comfortably.
Shafali was sacked in the seventh inning with Kiran Navgire taking a diving catch on the deep square leg off Tahlia McGrath.
A passing shower halted play for a brief period as Delhi were sailing to 87 for one in nine overs.
Except for Ismail, every other UP player conceded more than 10 runs per over.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)
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