England aim for a change in momentum in the final ODI against India
England aim for a change in momentum in the final ODI against India
England levelled the one-day international series by thrashing India in a rain-affected encounter at Lord's. England will take on India Women in the third and final ODI of the series in Durham.
With the ODI series between India and England tied, Tuesday’s final match in Durham is about more than just who wins the series. For England, beating India would mean a stronger show of progress under their new leadership better than their recent clean sweep of West Indies and give them a boost in confidence ahead of the World Cup.
India, as co-hosts of the upcoming World Cup, would see a loss as a bigger setback, especially since they dominated England in three of the five T20 matches earlier on the tour.
England offspinner Charlie Dean, who won Player of the Match in the fifth T20I for her 3/23, believes winning such a high-pressure game would be a big step forward for her team. "Getting momentum by winning this match would feel special and boost our confidence before heading to India," she said.
Last year, both India and England were knocked out early in the T20 World Cup. At the time, questions were raised about whether England had faced enough tough competition leading up to the tournament. That won’t be the case this time, with India providing strong resistance throughout this tour.
England’s only comfortable win came in the rain-affected second ODI at Lord’s, where spin bowlers dominated, Tammy Beaumont gave them a flying start in the chase, and the DLS method helped them win by eight wickets.
Dean said these tight matches are valuable because they prepare players for high-pressure situations seen in major tournaments. England often does well in bilateral series but struggles at big events when the stakes are higher. Practising under pressure now could help them later.
She also praised India’s spin attack, especially Deepti Sharma, whose bowling style slow, accurate, and targeting the stumps worked really well. Dean remembers Deepti’s controversial run-out of her backing up in their last ODI at Lord’s but considers it "water under the bridge" despite another tense match recently.
Dean explained that English spinners bowl faster, which suits home pitches but can lead to more boundaries. She noted India’s batters are very skilled at playing spin they sweep well, use their feet, and attack with confidence. England hopes to learn and apply some of those tactics.
As for her own bowling, Dean said she’s feeling confident. She uses scrambled seam deliveries in England to skid the ball onto the stumps, but she’s adjusting her style for Indian conditions, where slowing the pace and adding more spin can be effective.
She added, "It’s about choosing the right plan at the right time. Accuracy matters a lot in women’s cricket. I’m working on building my skill set so I’m ready to perform when the World Cup comes around."