Dean drags England to one-wicket win over NZ
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 at Chester-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.
Bouchier half-century gives England chance of first ODI win 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.