The Heather Knight-led side bounced back in style with a comprehensive 6-wicket victory in the 2nd ODI to level the three-match ODI series at Kingsmead, Durban. However, the young 23-year-old bowling all-rounder Charlie Dean, not only scripted her name in the history books but also played an instrumental role in the company of Lauren Filer and Sophie Ecclestone in setting up a crucial victory to keep the ODI series alive.
Charlie Dean’s potentially match-decisive spell included a hattrick accounting for the wickets of Marizanne Kapp, Nadine de Klerk, and the wicket-keeper batter Sinalo Jafta.
Marizanne Kapp and Nadine de Klerk were the in-form batters for the Proteas Women. She became the first English woman to take an ODI hat-trick overseas, and overall, only the 3rd England player to do so, after Carole Hodges vs Denmark at Banstead, in the 1993 World Cup, and Clare Connor vs India at Northampton in 1999.
Notably, she now has the 2nd most four-wicket hauls (7 in 35 innings) by an English woman in ODIs after the legendary Katherine Sciver-Brunt (8 in 139 innings).
Dean has picked up 66 wickets at an impressive average of 19.66 and an economy of 4.58 in 35 ODI innings with the ball for her side, since making her debut in the format against New Zealand on 16th September 2021 at County Ground, Bristol.
Her tally of wickets includes 6 four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul in the format so far. Her best performance with the ball for her side came on 14th September 2023 against Sri Lanka when she returned with brilliant match figures (6-0-31-5) in her spell in the 3rd ODI at Grace Road, Leicester.
The hosts, South Africa were bundled out for their lowest total (135) in an ODI against England since the 2013 World Cup during the 2nd ODI. The England openers Tammy Beaumont and Maia Bouchier killed the run chase by eating up half the chunk of the target with a 69-run opening stand and the visitors eventually got over the line with 6 wickets in hand and 156 balls to spare.
The ongoing ODI series has been pushed into the decider on 11th December 2024 at Senwes Park, Potchefstroom from 5:30 PM IST.
Loves all things female cricket
