Cobwebs off as England take positives from White Ferns win

Stand-in England captain Charlie Dean was left satisfied as her side returned to international cricket with a narrow one-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first ODI of their series in Durham.

Dean was adjudged Player of the Match for her two wickets and unbeaten 31 with the bat in reply in the ICC Women's Championship fixture, as England received a string of valuable contributions from a host of players as they chased down New Zealand's score of 210 with 10 deliveries remaining and just one wicket in hand at Chester-Le-Street.

It was England's first international appearance since their disappointing campaign at last year's ICC Women's Cricket World Cup and bodes well ahead of next month's ICC Women's T20 World Cup on home soil that commences on June 12.

While England were missing a host of first-choice stars - including regular skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt, No.2 ranked spinner Sophie Ecclestone and experienced batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge - the side showed glimpses of their best in what was Dean's first match in charge as captain.

"We didn't make it easy for ourselves out there with the chase, but it was brilliant to be out there at the end and winning," Dean told England Cricket after the match.

"It feels good when you win games like that where it could go either way. 

"Credit to our bowlers for restricting them to 200 or 210-ish, they were fantastic. 

"They were really disciplined today and they made my job a lot easier...it feels brilliant to start with a win."

One of the biggest positives for England was the performance of spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman on debut, with the teenager picking up two wickets for her country and then at the crease at the end when Dean hit the winning runs.

Corteen-Coleman was the surprise selection when England revealed their squad for the T20 World Cup at the start of the month, but the 18-year-old impressed Dean and showed she has a bright future at international level.

"Tilly's got such a good head on her shoulders and it's really exciting," Dean noted.

"She was fantastic as I asked her to do a few hard overs, bowling in the Powerplay and at the batters who had been set for a while. 

"She's got a great head on her shoulders and she really held a nerve both with ball and bat and that's all you can ask. 

"It's great that we're in a place where debutants like that are having such a big impact in the game and that's where English cricket feels like it is."

While disappointed not to get the win, New Zealand captain Melie Kerr also took plenty of positives from the contest as the White Ferns ready for their T20 World Cup defence.

Kerr (55) and Maddy Green (84) each scored half-centuries during the match, while seamer Rosemary Mair (3/42) was the pick of the bowlers as the visitors almost pulled off a victory.

"To take it as deep as we did shows fight and character," Kerr said after the match.

"Being out in the middle is the best practice, it's a different format but it's great preparation for the (T20) World Cup."

Series schedule:

First ODI: May 10, Durham (England won by one wicket)
Second ODI: May 13, Northampton
Third ODI: May 16, Cardiff