The win, and its tight nature, undoubtedly masked familiar England failings.
They were poor again in the field, dropping a catch and leaking runs. Knight was done by an in-ducker again and Amy Jones played a rash shot when calmness was needed once more.
“There were a few nerves around,” Dean said of the fielding. “We are a better fielding unit than that and I look forward seeing it.”
The proof will be in the pudding.
But if context is going to be difficult to find until these two sides switch to the T20 format for a three-match series beginning on 20 May, the performances of Dean and Corteen-Coleman were enough for celebration.
England will also have different openers by the time their World Cup campaign begins against Sri Lanka on 12 June and their captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and best bowler, Ecclestone, should be back too.
Without them, Dean passed a major test under pressure and Corteen-Coleman came through on this stage for the first time in a close match England easily could have lost.
That gives some reason for optimism.
