First one-day international, Chester-le-Street
New Zealand 210 (48.4 overs): Green 88 (107), M Kerr 55 (82); Dean 2-21, Bell 2-38, Corteen Coleman 2-38
England 211-9 (48.2 overs): Bouchier 59 (69), Dean 31* (46); Mair 3-42
England won by one wicket; lead three-match series 1-0
Stand-in captain Charlie Dean and 18-year-old debutant Tilly Corteen-Coleman salvaged a tense one-wicket victory from an underwhelming overall performance to ensure England’s summer began with a win in the first-one day international against New Zealand.
Despite dismissing the White Ferns for 210, England, who open the T20 World Cup at Edgbaston in a month, leaked runs in the field and then slipped to 160-7 in their chase atChester-le-Street.
And while tailender Lauren Bell put on an important 35 with Dean, 10 were still needed when last batter Corteen-Coleman emerged.
However, the teenager appeared as nerveless as she did in taking 2-49.
She finished three not out while Dean, who was crucially dropped with seven run required, ended unbeaten on 31 as England won in the penultimate over.
But though England are able to celebrate the win, there remains plenty of room for improvement before the World Cup.
Maia Bouchier put down a straightforward chance offered by Georgia Plimmer, while a number of misfields helped New Zealand to their score, with Maddy Green hitting 88 and Amelia Kerr 55 as their fielding problems returned.
The remaining ODIs in the three-match series are on Wednesday and Saturday.
After that the World Cup preparation ramps up when the teams switch to the T20 format.
Dean to the rescue for England
Coach Charlotte Edwards has made much of wanting to make her side one that performs under pressure to win close matches – a quality England have lacked in recent years.
Though there were clear issues, she can point to success on that front.
The top order looked like one that had not played in 190 days. It was also missing its captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, who is sitting out this series with a minor injury.
Left-hander Jodi Grewcock was out lbw on debut, the returning Freya Kemp made 30 before being sloppily run out at the non-striker’s end, while Bouchier made 59 only to chip a catch with the finish line in sight.
Dean – leading England for the first time in place of Sciver-Brunt – played the situation well in the whole, having also taken 2-21 off seven miserly overs.
She took most of the strike with Bell and cleverly picked gaps for twos. She only hit one four in her 46 balls.
When Corteen-Coleman emerged Dean took risks by taking singles at the start of the over to expose the tailender but ultimately she took her side over the line.
As significant as Corteen-Coleman’s three singles were her calmness and ability to run between the wickets.
Corteen-Coleman impresses but fielding falls flat
England will hope Corteen-Coleman does not have to bat again this summer or in the T20 World Cup. In the search for relevance before that tournament, her bowling performance was more important.
She has been picked in England’s T20 World Cup squad and appeared utterly unflustered by her international debut.
The teenager tossed one up to tempt opener Georgia Plimmer into hitting to mid-off for 20 in her second over and in her last had Green caught at long-on.
In between she was particularly accurate with her lines, rarely offering loose deliveries despite Green and Amelia Kerr looking to use her overs as the basis for an acceleration after the 30-over mark.
The White Ferns fell away badly, losing their last eight wickets for 47 runs, after Amelia Kerr slapped a full toss from leg-spinner Grewcock to mid-off. but what was concerning for England was how they allowed their opponents to get a platform.
Plimmer was on 17 when she was dropped. That mistake was not punished but England’s fielders repeatedly leaked runs with fumbles or poor dives.
England could also do with their full squad fit.
Sciver-Brunt was ruled out of this series last week but Sophie Ecclestone and Issy Wong also missed the game with thigh and hamstring niggles respectively.
Even Dean was not initially due to play in this series but came in when Sciver-Brunt was ruled out.
