WPL 2023: McGrath's 90 not out in vain as Delhi Capitals hammer UP Warriorz by 42 runs

An attacking half-century by captain Meg Lanning (70 off 42) along with vital cameos by Jess Jonassen (42 not out off 20) and Jemimah Rodrigues (34 not out off 22) powered Delhi Capitals to 211/4 in 20 overs.

Apart from Lanning, Jonassen and Rodrigues, the likes of Alice Capsey (21), Shafali Verma (17), Marizanne Kapp (16) got starts but couldn't score big.

Chasing a big total, UP skipper Alyssa Healy showed her aggressive intent right from the first ball, hitting five boundaries in the first three overs. But, Jess Jonassen inflicted a double blow as she removed Healy (24 off 17) and Kiran Navgire (2) in the same over, which was 4th of the innings.

Very soon, Marizanne Kapp got rid of Shweta Sehrawat (1) as UP could only score 33/3 in six overs. Thereafter, all-rounders Tahlia McGrath and Deepti Sharma stitched a brief partnership to halt the fall of wickets but the asking run rate was increasing with every passing over.

It was Shikha Pandey, who gave Delhi their next wicket by removing Deepti in the 11th over. However, it didn't affect McGrath, who kept playing her shots and got her able partner in Devika Vaidya. Though, the run rate was going beyond UP's reach.

Once Devika (23) got out in the 17th over, McGrath went all guns blazing and hammered Delhi bowlers all-round the park in the last few overs but UP Warriorz eventually were restricted to 169-5 in 20 overs, losing by a margin of 42 runs.

Jess Jonassen was Delhi's most successful bowler with her 3-43 while Marizanne Kapp (1-29) and Shikha Pandey (1-18) picked one wicket each.

Earlier, put into bat, openers Shafali Verma and Meg Lanning gave Delhi Capitals a flying start. Both batters started from where they left in the previous contest and played some sublime shots to score 62 runs in the powerplay overs.

However, soon after Power-play, Tahlia McGrath was introduced into the attack and she gave UP Warriorz instant success by dismissing Shafali (17 off 14), courtesy a splendid catch by Kiran Navgire at deep square leg.

After Shafali's wicket, Marizanne Kapp joined Lanning at the crease as Delhi continued their attacking approach. To stop the run flow, UP skipper Alyssa Healy brought world No. 1 spinner Sophie Ecclestone into the attack and she started with a couple of dots against Meg Lanning before being hit for a six towards the backward square leg region as the Delhi captain completed her half-century in 32 balls.

Lanning was carrying the momentum for Delhi before rain interrupted the proceedings. After the 20-minute halt, the play was resumed and Kapp hit Deepti Sharma for a boundary and collected nine runs coming off her over but she couldn't continue longer and got out to Ecclestone in the 11th over.

Despite wickets falling from the other end, Lanning was not hesitant in continuing her aggressive approach as she hit Ecclestone for back-to-back boundaries before Rajeshwari Gayakwad cleaned her up.

Alice Capsey, who came to bat next, dealt in boundaries and along with Jemimah Rodrigues steadied Delhi's ship. However, Shabnim Ismail in her comeback spell dismissed Capsey to give UP some reprieve in the game. But, Jess Jonassen and Jemimah had other ideas.

The pair took some time to assess the condition before playing their shots with Jonassen hitting three sixes and three boundaries to play a blinder at the death. Rodrigues too played her part to perfection with some timely boundaries and was involved in an unbeaten 67-run partnership with Jonassen as Delhi Capitals posted a strong total of 211 for 4 in 20 overs.

Brief scores: Delhi Capitals 211/4 in 20 overs (Meg Lanning 70, Jess Jonassen 42 not out, Jemimah Rodrigues 34 not out; Shabnim Ismail 1-29) beat UP Warriorz 169/5 in 20 overs (Tahlia McGrath 90 not out, Alyssa Healy 24; Jess Jonassen 3-43) by 42 runs.

--IANS

ak/bsk

( 709 Words)

2023-03-07-23:26:03 (IANS)