Jess Jonassen Key player to keep Delhi Capitals on Top Spot in the WPL tally
The Delhi Capitals continued their impressive run in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025, securing a comfortable six-wicket victory over Gujarat Giants on Tuesday, February 25th, at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The win propelled Delhi to the top on points table, dethroning Royal Challengers Bangalore, while Giants remain rooted to the bottom, still searching for their first win.
Delhi Capitals Performance Analysis:
Bowling: The Capitals' bowlers set the tone for the match, restricting Giants to a below-par 127/9. Marizanne Kapp, Shikha Pandey, and Annabel Sutherland each picked up two wickets, consistently applying pressure in the powerplay and beyond. Titas Sadhu's dismissal of the in-form Ash Gardner was a crucial breakthrough. Minnu Mani, though wicketless, was exceptionally economical. Jess Jonassen finished the innings with a wicket, highlighting the depth of Delhi's bowling attack.
Batting: While captain Meg Lanning fell early, Shafali Verma (44 off 27) provided the initial firepower. However, it was Jess Jonassen (61 off 32 balls) who truly dominated the chase. Her aggressive innings, featuring nine fours and two sixes, ensured a swift victory with 29 balls to spare. The 74-run partnership between Verma and Jonassen effectively sealed the match. Jemimah Rodrigues would have been disappointed not to finish the game, but the victory was never in doubt.
Fielding: Had a great performance.
Gujarat Giants Performance Analysis:
Batting: The Giants' batting woes continued. After being put in to bat, they lost four wickets in the powerplay, crippling their ability to post a competitive total. Skipper Ash Gardner's early dismissal was a significant blow. While Deandra Dottin provided a brief spark, it was Bharti Fulmali's unbeaten 40 off 29 balls that gave the innings some respectability. However, the overall total was clearly insufficient. The top-order failures were a major concern.
Bowling: Kashvee Gautam provided an early breakthrough by dismissing Lanning, and she finished as the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4-0-26-2. Ash Gardner and Tanuja Kanwar picked up a wicket each, but the bowlers simply didn't have enough runs to defend against a strong Delhi batting lineup. The lack of wicket-taking options in the middle overs was evident.
Fielding: Not to the mark to defend such a low score.
The match was a clear demonstration of Delhi Capitals' all-round strength and Gujarat Giants' continuing struggles. Delhi's balanced bowling attack and powerful batting lineup make them serious title contenders.
