'If you get a wicket, you have to do certain moves' - Jess Jonassen talks about how Jemimah influenced her celebration

The Australian cricketer Jess Jonassen promised her fellow teammate Jemimah Rodrigues that she would shake a leg if she got a wicket in the WPL match against UP Warriorz, played on Tuesday, March 7. Jonassen was adjudged the 'Player of the Match' for showing her all-round skills, scoring an unbeaten 42 off 20 balls, and also picking up 3/43 at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Mumbai.

Both Jemimah ( 34* off 22) and Jonassen put on a 67-run unbeaten stand for the fifth wicket. The DC all-rounder lauded her batting partner and also talked about the challenge that she was given by the Indian batter at the post-match press conference. She revealed that prior to the action, Jonassen and Rodrigues were sitiing with Radha Yadav who was grooving to music. That got Rodrigues to pose infront of her a challenge of shaking a leg if she picks up a wicket in the match.

“Jemi is a ball of energy. She is so enthusiastic and so supportive. She’s a really good person to have at the other end out there. She kept me grounded and kept me focused on what I do best.

We were speaking in the dugout at the start of the game. There was a lot of music going on and I was sitting next to Radha Yadav and she was having a bit of a dance and I was trying to join in. I promised Jemi. She said, ‘if you get a wicket you have to do certain moves’,” revealed Jonassen.

Jonassen picked the first wicket of her Australian teammate Alyssa Healy, getting her out on 24. The left-arm spinner spoke about the dismissal and the celebrations post the first wicket, saying that she enjoyed it all and had fun.

“When I got that first one, I made sure I turned around and did that for her and the same with the second one. All a bit of fun and really enjoyed it", Jonassen was reported saying.

After dismissing Healy, Jonnasen got rid of Kiran Navgire (2) and Devika Vaidya (23). The UP Warriorz were chasing a mammoth target of 212, but DC managed to restrict them to 169/5.

Jess Jonassen describes Meg Lanning as an exceptional leader

Jonassen admitted that she is pleased to have Meg Lanning as the captain of her franchise, who has also led her in national colours. She spoke about Meg being an exceptional leader and also lauded her calmness which she radiates to everyone else. 

“Meg's an exceptional leader. I am really excited that I am part of the same team that she's over here. She just has this calmness about her and she's able to project that over every other person out there in the field," said Jonassen about her Australian teammate.

Meg Lanning is the current highest run scorer in the WPL 2023, having scored 144 runs in two matches at a strike rate of 167.05.