Stand-in skipper Charlie Dean and debutant Tilly Corteen-Coleman saw England’s women over the line as they chased down 210 in the first match of the Metro Bank One Day International Series at Durham.
With a T20 World Cup on the horizon, Charlotte Edwards’ side were looking for a confidence boost against the 2024 winners of that competition, but looked to have thrown victory away on more than one occasion.
It needed the calm head of Dean, in for the injured Nat Sciver-Brunt, to get them home – but with just seven needed Dean was dropped by Nensi Patel which would have won New Zealand the game.
The hosts would have been delighted with the first innings, having won the toss and put the White Ferns into bat.
Suzie Bates did not hang around too long, undone by some extra bounce from Lauren Filer – playing on her home ground – and edged a simple catch behind.
Filer should have had a second early wicket when, with the score on just 32, Georgia Plimmer cut straight into the hands of Maia Bouchier at gully but the simple chance was put down.
England’s fielding has been under the spotlight of late and while that was the most glaring error, there were also several misfields suggesting there is still work to be done.
Dean did not wait too long to introduce teenager Corteen-Coleman, and it paid off with a wicket in just her second over.
White Ferns skipper Melie Kerr and the in-form Maddy Green rebuilt from 42 for two taking the score to 147 before Kerr (55) mishit a full toss from part-timer Jodi Grewcock to provide another bowler with a first international scalp while Dani Gibson also struck on debut.
Green eventually fell for 88 when giving Corteen-Coleman (two for 49) a second wicket and the New Zealand innings fell apart when Lauren Bell (two for 38) took two wickets in two balls leading to the visitors losing their last eight wickets for just 63.
England’s response did not get off to the greatest start when Grewcock went early on debut which brought Heather Knight to the crease.
She unfurled a couple of glorious cover drives on her way to 19 but when Rosie Mair got one to nip back she was trapped in front with the score on just 42 and almost immediately Emma Lamb skied Patel and the home team were in a spot of bother.
Freya Kemp (30) and Bouchier then put on a 68 partnership before Kemp was unluckily run out when Bouchier drove Mair straight and the bowler flicked it onto the stumps.
The out-of-nick Amy Jones drove uppishly into the covers to go for just three then Gibson sliced to gully for a run-a-ball 19.
When Bouchier went two balls after drinks for 59 New Zealand were suddenly favourites, but Dean and Bell edged England to within 16 before the captain and Corteen-Coleman saw England home.
PA
