Delhi Capitals skipper Meg Lanning seems to be going through a rough patch with the bat, but her compatriot Jess Jonassen said on Tuesday that there was nothing to be worried about after the side beat Gujarat Giants at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
It was the second time in a row that Lanning’s stumps were rattled by a ball nipping back into her, scoring just five and three against UP Warriorz and the Giants, respectively.
“No, it’s not a concern at all,” Jonassen told reporters after the match. “She’s a world-class player. The best players in the world miss out a few times. A couple of innings ago, she scored that quickfire 60. She’s one of the hardest-working members of our team. She’s the ultimate competitor, and we have faith that she has more runs left in that bat for us this season.”
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Jonassen scored her first WPL fifty (61 not out off 32 balls) after she was promoted to No. 3. She revealed that this move was in the offing if the situation demanded it.
“I had a conversation with JB [Jonathan Batty], our coach, earlier in the day, that they were planning this to inject some firepower and intent in the PowerPlay should we lose a wicket early on. I’m really pleased I was able to come through with it tonight and repay the faith shown in me.”
After Lanning was sent back to the hut in the fourth over, Jonassen came out in the middle and stitched a 74-run stand with Shafali Verma for the second wicket before seeing the game out for her side.
“I knew that if I went into my shell and didn’t try and play shots then I would have been in trouble. To be fair, a pitch with a bit more grass and bounce makes me feel like I’m at home.”
