Mumbai, Mar 7 (PTI) Meg Lanning led from the front with an entertaining 70 off 42 balls as Delhi Capitals once again flaunted their firepower to reach 211 for four against UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League here on Tuesday.
While Lanning stole the show in the first half of the innings, fellow Australian Jess Jonassen (42 not out off 20 balls) went ballistic in the death overs to ensure Delhi crossed the 200-run mark for the second time in as many games.
Delhi smashed 65 runs off the last five overs with Jonassen getting good support from Jemimah Rodrigues (34 not off 22 balls).
UP Warriorz opted to field, thinking the surface would suit the pacers early on but Delhi were able to negate that threat to post a challenging total.
Lanning and her opening partner Shafali Verma (17 off 14) shared a 67-run off 39 balls with the skipper doing the bulk of the damage.
Warriorz made a surprising call to leave out Grace Harris, who single-handedly won them the previous game, for the extra pace of Shabnim Ismail.
The South Africa speedster got the ball to move around in her opening spell but was unlucky to get a wicket. One knew it was Lanning’s day as even her mishits were going all the way. Her innings comprised 10 fours and three sixes.
With Ismail getting the ball to swing away, Lanning went for the flick off a full ball but got a leading edge that sailed over the bowler’s head for the first six of the game.
Lanning’s second six came off Ismail again as she mishit a pull that went over the fine-leg fielder.
The inspirational Australian skipper was brilliant with her backfoot play on either side of the wicket with the cut and pull being an integral part of her game.
She reached her second consecutive half-century with a sweep off Sophie Ecclestone. It was a top-edge that comfortably cleared the backward square fence.
Shafali was dismissed in seventh over with Kiran Navgire taking a diving catch at deep square leg off Tahlia McGrath.
A passing shower stopped play for a brief period when Delhi were cruising at 87 for one in nine overs.
Barring Ismail, all other UP bowlers conceded more than 10 runs per over.
Source: PTI News
