WPL 2023: Delhi Capitals win 2 in 2 after Meg Lanning, Jess Jonassen heroics sink UP Warriorz

Delhi Capitals established their credentials as title favourites by laying down an early marker, hammering UP Warriorz by 42 runs in Match 5 of the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) on Tuesday, March 7.

Delhi Capitals were bossed with both bat and ball as they flaunted their firepower on a good batting pitch at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

Delhi Capitals clinched their second successive victory to go level with Mumbai Indians, who also have 4 points from two matches in the inaugural WPL 2023 season.

Chasing a mammoth total of 212, UP Warriorz managed only 169 for 5 in 20 overs, losing by 42 runs. Tahila McGrath’s blinder of 90 not out went in vain as the star Australian all-rounder did not get any support from her teammates. Tahlia also set a new record for the highest individual score of the WPL season, going past Shafali Verma’s 84 against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Tahlia hit 11 boundaries and 4 sixes in a whirlwind knock but it was not enough for UP, who faced the first defeat of their season after opening their campaign with a win against Gujarat Giants.

Meg Lanning was the star of the day, once again for Delhi Capitals as Alyssa Healy’s decision to win the toss and opt to bowl backfired heavily on UP Warriorz. The UP side got everything wrong, including team selection on the big day, as they rested Grace Harris, who played a blinder for them in their win over Gujarat. UP got fast bowler Shabnim Ismail into the XI. The South African speedster did her job well, picking up a wicket for just 29 runs in her 4-over quota but the absence of the extra batter cost UP Warriorz the firepower in the end overs.

LANNING, JONASSEN SHOW
Lanning continued her love affair with batting in India as the Australia captain hit her second successive fifty, following up her 72 against Royal Challengers Bangalore with a 42-ball 70 that had 3 sixes and 10 boundaries on Tuesday. She shared a 67-run opening stand with Shafali Verma, who smashed 17 off 14 deliveries.

Lanning and Shafali had stitched a record-setting 162-run opening stand against RCB in their opener. Even though the duo did not bat for that long, it set the tone for the rest of the innings.

While Verma was dismissed for 17 in the 7th over, Marizanne Kapp continued the run-scoring momentum with a 12-ball 16.

Delhi lost Lanning for 70 as early as the 12th over but Jemmimah Rodriguies (34 not out off 22), Alica Capsey (21 off 10) and Jess Jonassen (42 not out off 20) tore into the UP Warriorz attack.

Barring Shabnim Ismail, none of the other UP Warriorz bowlers conceded at less than 10 runs per over. India’s left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad picked up the big wicket of Lanning but she gave away 31 runs in her 2-over quota.

Jemimah and Jonassen gave Delhi the flourish in the end, stitching a 67-run unbeaten stand for the 5th wicket in just 34 balls.

With the ball, Jess Jonassen picked up 3 wickets, including that of Healy, who looked to go big in the powerplay.

Deepti Sharma (12 off 20) led the flop show of Indian batters in the UP Warriorz batting line-up as they missed Grace Harris big time in the crunch contest.

WPL BRIEF SCORE: Delhi Capitals (211 for 4 in 20 overs, Lanning 70, Jonassen 42; Ismail 1/29) beat UP Warriorz (168 for 5 in 20 overs, McGrath 90, Jonassen 3/43) by 42 runs.