England's Charlie Dean has come a long way since making her debut in 2022 and getting run out on the non-striker’s end by Deepti Sharma which led to widespread criticism. On April 1, Charlie rewrote history books when she became the fastest to reach 50 wickets in women's ODIs. She reached the landmark in 26 innings to break the long-standing record of Australian left-arm spinner Lyn Fullston created in 1987.
After Fullston, the next on the list is England's Laura Marsh who took 28 innings. India's Rajeshwari Gayakwad did in 28 innings as well. Australia's Charmaine Mason and South Africa's Dane van Niekerk are next on the list achieving the feat in 29 innings.
Charlie is also the fastest to 50 wickets in both women’s and men’s ODI cricket. In men's ODI cricket, James Anderson holds the record. He crossed the 50-wicket mark in May 2004 during the clash against West Indies at Kensington Oval, Barbados.
Charlie’s performance with the ball
In the first ODI of the three-ODI series against New Zealand, the right-arm off-spinner took three wickets. She reached 50 wickets with the wicket of White Ferns' middle-order batter Brooke Halliday.
She also took the wickets of opener Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu to help her side bowl out the hosts for 207 in the 49th over. However, she was the most expensive of the five bowlers conceding 57 runs in nine overs.
Partnership record broken too
In the run chase of 208, England suffered a batting collapse and lost six wickets for 79 runs in the 17th over. Wicketkeeper-batter Amy Jones and Charlie took control of the run chase. They shared an unbeaten 130-run partnership which is the highest for seventh wicket in women's ODIs.
The previous record belonged to Indian pair Sneh Rana and Pooja Vastrakar who shared a 122-run partnership against Pakistan in ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2022. Interestingly, it was achieved on New Zealand soil as well. Amy scored 92 runs from 83 balls including 10 fours. Charlie hit just one boundary in her 70-ball 42 as England chased down the target with 52 balls to spare.
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