Explore the highlights of WPL 2025 as Jess Jonassen shines in the Delhi Capitals’ decisive win against the Gujarat Giants. Uncover the match details here.
Introduction:
Jess Jonassen’s 61 out of 32 balls without being dismissed and an overpowering seam bowling effort from Delhi Capitals ensured that they thrashed the Gujarat Giants by six wickets in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). The comprehensive win helped DC reach the top of the points table for at least the time being with their third win in five games.
The Giants, however, remained in the bottom, with a single win out of four matches. Even after a gritty 40*-run knock by Bharti Fulmali (off 29 balls), Gujarat’s 127 for 9 proved woefully short against a ruthless DC team.
Kapp and Pandey Tear Through the Top Order
When Meg Lanning decided to set a target, having won the toss, she would have longed for top-order wickets—and her bowlers obliged with aplomb. Marizanne Kapp raised the bar early with a riveting new-ball spell, leaving the right-handers struggling for space.
Harleen Deol experienced a moment of fortune when her outside edge fell just short of Lanning at the slip, but Kapp was not going to be thwarted for long. In the following over, she induced Deol to edge one again—this time flying safely into the gloves of Sarah Bryce.
Three balls later, Kapp came back with a second blow, catching Phoebe Litchfield lbw for a duck. With a double-wicket maiden, the South African all-rounder left Gujarat reeling at 16 for 2. See also: Sophie Ecclestone’s Heroics Seal Super Over Thriller
To make matters worse, Shikha Pandey tightened the screws even more in the next over. Beth Mooney first chopped a pull shot straight to long leg, where Niki Prasad held onto an easy catch.
Then, on the very next ball, Kashvee Gautam’s attempted hook went skyward, and Prasad completed a brilliant low catch at deep midwicket. Pandey nearly had a hat-trick, too—her sharp bouncer hit Deandra Dottin on the helmet, forcing a concussion check. Though Dottin responded with a boundary soon after, Gujarat was limping at 31 for 4 by the end of the powerplay.
Middle-Order Resistance and Fulmali’s Late Flourish
In the ninth over, Titas Sadhu sent in-form captain Ashleigh Gardner back for a mere 3.
Annabel Sutherland then got rid of Dottin, who had begun her counterattack, leaving Gujarat reeling at 60 for 6.
It looked like the Giants would not even reach 100, but Bharti Fulmali had other designs. Debuting for the season, Fulmali played a free-flowing knock, hitting the first six of the innings off Minnu Mani.
Her 51-run partnership with Tanuja Kanwar (12 off 19) provided Gujarat with some respectability, taking them to 127 for 9. But on a batting-friendly track, it was always going to be a tall order for them to defend.
Lanning’s Struggles Continue
Meg Lanning, the second-highest run-scorer in WPL history, has struggled this season, and her lean run continued against Gujarat.
After being thrashed by Dottin in the early stages, she tried to drag Kashvee Gautam but was comprehensively bowled out for only 3 off 13 balls.
Lanning’s falling figures are a worry for DC:
2023 WPL: 345 runs @ 49.28 avg, 139.11 SR; 2024 WPL: 328 runs @ 42.50 avg, 123.04 SR; 2025 WPL: 109 runs in 5 innings @ 21.80 avg, 103.80 SR
With Lanning under pressure, Delhi required someone to rise to the occasion. And they had their savior in Jess Jonassen.
Jonassen, Shafali Break Down Gujarat’s Bowling
At No. 3, Jonassen played a game of sheer dominance. Fully exploiting a short boundary (51 meters on one side), she unleashed a string of attacking shots:
Scored 23 off 8 balls when the shorter boundary was on her leg side. Hit two sixes in that area. Sustained a strike rate of 166.66 even against Gujarat’s top bowler, Gautam.
On the other side, Shafali Verma supplemented Jonassen’s onslaught with her forceful stroke play. Her 44 off 27 balls contained 32 runs on the leg side, demonstrating she was not intimidated by field placements.
By the ninth over, when Gardner had lbw Shafali, Delhi had already stormed to 88, effectively clinching the victory.
Jess Jonassen’s Fifty, Quick Finish
Jonassen also brought up her maiden WPL fifty off only 26 deliveries. Although there was the early loss of DC’s Jemimah Rodrigues (5) and Annabel Sutherland (1) cheaply, there was no threat of the collapse ever creeping in.
A fitting Marizanne Kapp hit the match-winning boundary with 29 deliveries to spare, a statement all-around performance as DC topped the table.
Key Takeaways: What This Means for Both Teams
Delhi Capitals: Strengths and Areas to Improve
Pace Attack on Fire: Kapp and Pandey’s initial success placed DC in charge.
Depth in Batting: With Jonassen coming good, DC demonstrated that they are capable of winning even when Lanning is out of form.
Lanning’s Poor Form: DC would prefer their captain to find form before important matches.
Gujarat Giants: A Season Spiraling Downward
Top-Order Failures: Losing four wickets in the powerplay left Gujarat with too much to accomplish.
Inconsistent Bowling: They failed to put any pressure on DC’s batters, especially after Lanning’s early wicket.
Lack of Standout Performers: Apart from Fulmali’s late cameo, Gujarat lacked individual brilliance.
With only one win in four games, Gujarat’s hopes of making the playoffs now seem slim.
What’s Next?
Delhi Capitals: DC will aim to extend their lead at the top when they face a rejuvenated Mumbai Indians side in their next fixture.
Gujarat Giants: GG requires a miracle to turn their season around, and they’ll have to begin by recovering from UP Warriorz.