Six finals. Six defeats.
Jess Jonassen has been one of the cricket’s most prolific wicket-takers over the past 12 months, but her on-field success hasn’t translated into silverware.
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On Sunday afternoon, the Brisbane Heat suffered a seven-run loss (DLS method) to the Melbourne Renegades in a rain-affected WBBL final at the MCG. Not only was it the club’s second straight loss in a Big Bash decider, but also captain Jonassen’s sixth-consecutive defeat in a T20 final.
Following last year’s three-run loss to the Adelaide Strikers in the WBBL finale, Jonassen featured in the Delhi Capitals’ eight-wicket defeat against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Women’s Premier League final, the Welsh Fire’s four-wicket loss to the London Spirit in The Hundred final and the Trinbago Knight Riders four-wicket defeat against the Barbados Royals in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League final.
After returning home, Jonassen’s Heat qualified for the final of the newly-introduced T20 Spring Challenge in October, but suffered a five-wicket defeat against the Hobart Hurricanes in Sydney.
“It’s obviously hard at the best of times,” Jonassen said after Sunday’s loss, as reported by cricket.com.au.
“People say it’s all well and good getting into a final.
“But I’ve lost my last six now across franchise cricket, so they’re starting to pile up, and they’ve been all in the last 12 months.
“It hurts, this one hurts a lot, but I know everyone will be better off for it and we’ll be coming and hunting again next year.”
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The Heat were on a six-match winning streak heading into the WBBL final, while they would have been considered favourites when the Renegades stumbled early at 3-23 in the fifth over.
The hosts recovered to post 9-141, but the dreaded rain arrived less than four overs into the Heat’s run chase, with the Brisbane-based franchise handed a revised target of 98 from 12 overs.
After collapsing to 5-37, Jonassen cracked an unbeaten 44 from 28 balls to keep the contest alive heading into the penultimate over, but it was enough to prevent a Renegades triumph.
The Heat have now qualified for the finals in five consecutive WBBL campaigns without lifting the trophy, missing another chance to become the first club to win three titles.
“Certain plans that we took in (to the game) didn’t quite work so we then had to try and adjust,” Jonassen continued.
“We were a little bit sloppy in the field early, made a few uncharacteristic errors, which could have or couldn’t have cost us, I guess we’ll never know.
“Then when the rain came … I think the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern total went a bit higher than we probably envisaged in the end.
“I would have loved that almost fairytale finish.
“We were the genuine underdog from before the competition even started.
“Yet we’re one of the most successful franchises, so it would have been nice to be the first team to get those three titles.
“But for some reason, it’s just not meant to be right now.”
Last week, Jonassen was named in the WBBL Team of the Decade having taken a record 179 wickets at 19.17 across ten seasons with the Heat.
The accolade comes after the 32-year-old was dropped from the national side in all three formats last summer, missing selection for the recent T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
“I think for me, having found myself out of the Australian side, there’s been a little bit of soul searching in a way, just been getting back to my roots and what I actually enjoy about cricket in the first place,” Jonassen said.
“For me, I just look to try and have a positive impact on whatever team I’m a part of, in whatever jersey I’m a part of, as opposed to searching for an answer that might not even be there.
“I’m just enjoying my cricket and enjoying being out on the park and playing whoever that is, whoever it’s for, I don’t really mind, I’m just really loving it at the moment.”
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