England keen to be more ‘ruthless’ as they look to clinch Pakistan ODI series
Hosts England can take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series with victory at Taunton on Sunday.
Charlie Dean says England are looking to become more “ruthless” as they prepare for the second ODI against Pakistan.
After winning the T20 series 3-0 against the same opponents, England drew first blood in the 50-over format with a 37-run victory at Derby on Thursday.
Chasing 244 for victory, Pakistan looked on track to earn a first-ever ODI win over England in 13 attempts after reaching 149 for four in the 35th over, but they never recovered from losing five wickets for 29 runs as they finished on 206 for nine.
Eight England players made double figures with the bat, but no one went past 50 as teenager Alice Capsey top-scored with 44 from 65 balls.
The second ODI takes place at Taunton on Sunday and Dean said England, who can take an unassailable lead in the three-match series with victory, are looking to be more clinical in games.
She said following the opening ODI: “I think that’s exactly what we want to be, we want to be ruthless when we’re on top, we want to stay there.
“Against teams like Australia, New Zealand, South Africa who may have a bit more depth in batting line-ups we need to make sure partnerships don’t form near the back of an innings and how we go about that is something we’re exploring.
“Equally it doesn’t need to come too far away from our basics, I think sometimes when you search for things then you don’t string your best balls together as much.”
Dean herself was in good form in the first ODI, hitting a valuable 20 from number seven before taking two wickets – those of Pakistan captain Nida Dar (26) and Aliya Riaz (21) after they had put on a dangerous-looking fifth wicket stand of 32 – to help shift the momentum back in England’s favour.
The 23-year-old made up a trio of spinners in the England attack alongside Sarah Glenn and Sophie Ecclestone, with the latter taking three for 26, and Dean expressed her enjoyment at bowling alongside the pair.
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She added: “It was quite nice in a way to take what’s become so valuable as a T20 team and to see that in 50 overs. Glenny and Eccles are so consistent with how they go about things so it makes bowling with them really easy.
“Personally I’ve looked to try and be more consistent, I’ve probably missed more than I wanted to recently, but I’m getting there with it and I just enjoy being in this team and bowling with those two in tandem, it’s good.”
