Follow UsChasing 128 against Gujarat Giants (GG) on February 25, Delhi Capitals (DC) were always going to be the favourites. But when they lost their skipper Meg Lanning pretty early on, at 14/1, there was some element of doubt. That’s when Lanning did the most unexpected thing, promoting Australian all-rounder Jess Jonassen at No.3.
The left-hander fulfilled that role with aplomb, smashing a boundary off her very first ball at the crease. She wasn’t done yet, with a boundary again off the third ball, upping the ante. Jonassen didn’t spare her fellow Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner either, scoring two boundaries off her first over.
Eventually, the Australian all-rounder finished unbeaten on 61 off 32, her third-highest score in T20s, which helped DC raze the total off in under 16 overs, boosting both their net run rate and points. In the post-match presentation, Jonassen admitted that the promotion was a bit of a ‘shock’.
“I loved it. A bit surprised by the opportunity, I was happy to take it. We thought, with the spinners, it held a little bit bit. There was a bit of swing. Tried to go straight as much as possible,” Jonassen said in the post-match presentation.
Even skipper Lanning admitted that it feels great for the ‘move’ to come to fruition.
“With the bat, putting in some partnerships. Feel like we have been improving all the time. It's nice when something comes off like that, JJ [Jonassen] has shown everyone that she's really capable with the bat,” Lanning said.
Opposition skipper Gardner, too, was taken aback by the move, as she revealed in the post-match presentation.
“That was a bit of a shock to see Jonna bat at three, she batted really well and struck the ball really well,” Gardner added.
DC’s third win of the season puts them on top of the WPL 2025 table, surpassing Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Mumbai Indians.