England stand-in captain Charlie Dean and debutant Tilly Corteen-Coleman combined to take the hosts home in a tight run-chase against New Zealand on Sunday (May 10).
Tilly Corteen-Coleman shines through on international debut
Corteen-Coleman, the 18-year-old left-arm spinner, was named in senior England women's squads for the first time last monthwhen they announced their sides for the New Zealand ODIs and the upcoming T20I assignments including the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup.
Corteen-Coleman's emotional reaction to England head coach Charlotte Edwards informing her of her selection over a phone call went viral a few days back. Now, on her ODI debut, she put in a crunch performance to take her team over the line.
Fielding first, England removed New Zealand stalwart Suzie Bates early in the second over, but the pair of Georgia Plimmer and captain Amelia Kerr looked set to put up a big partnership for the second wicket. Corteen-Coleman was brought into the attack in the 10th over, and she struck in the 12th, removing the dangerous Plimmer for her maiden international wicket.
Kerr then put up a 105-run third-wicket stand with Maddy Green before she was dismissed by another debutant, leg-spinner Jodi Grewcock, for 55 off 82 balls. Stand-in skipper Charlie Dean, who has taken over from the injured Nat Sciver-Brunt for this series, then removed Brooke Halliday three overs later to reduce NZ to 158-4 in 37.1 overs.
Trusted with the responsibility to bowl at the death, Corteen-Coleman returned to take the wicket of New Zealand's highest scorer Green (88 off 107 balls) in the 46th over before Dean trapped Jess Kerr lbw in the 48th and Bree Illing was run out in the 49th to restrict NZ to 210. The debutant finished with figures of 2-49 from her 10 overs, while Dean had 2-21 from seven.
1st ODI, England Women vs New Zealand Women
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The run-chase was a topsy-turvy one involving brief partnerships, regular wickets, and a tense last-wicket finish. After being reduced to 42-3, Freya Kemp (30 off 38) and Maia Bouchier (58 off 69) resurrected England, but they slipped back down to 160-7.
Dean, batting at No.8, added 35 for the eighth-wicket with Lauren Bell (12 off 27) but two quick wickets meant England were left needing 10 more runs when the debutant Corteen-Coleman came out to bat at No.11.
A grand total of two runs from 17 Women's Hundred matches before her international debut gives a fair account of her batting prowess, but the 18-year-old displayed nerves of steel to stick around with her captain and finish the job for her side. She remained unbeaten on three off six, while Dean was named Player of the Match for her bowling efforts and 31 not out off 46 balls.
In the process, Corteen-Coleman became just the second No.11 to remain unbeaten in a successful run-chase on women's ODI debut. The only other cricketer to have done that is Pakistan's Huda Ziad, who made one off eight balls against Netherlands in 2001.
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