A Sophie Devine century wasn't enough to steer the White Ferns to victory in their Women's Cricket World Cup opener, falling three runs short of the West Indies at Mt Maunganui.
Chasing 260 for victory, the NZ women needed six runs from the final over, with three wickets in hand, but when Deandra Dottin stepped up to the bowling crease for the first time, the White Ferns lost their final three wickets for two runs, bowled out for 256.
Captain Devine led from the front with 108 - her sixth one-day international century - but received little support in New Zealand's chase, with wicketkeeper Katey Martin's 44 the next best score.
An eighth-wicket stand of 40 runs in 31 balls between Martin and Jess Kerr (25) took the home side close, but the West Indies held their nerve and took two valuable competition points to sit atop the table after the first match.
New Zealand can bounce back as early as Monday, when they face Bangladesh at Dunedin.
Winning the toss and choosing to bowl first, Devine might have regretted her decision, as the West Indies top order started fast. Launching the innings with a series of boundaries, no singles were run until the fifth over, when the score was 38/1.
Opener Hayley Matthews led the way, holding the innings together with a spectacular century, reaching triple figures from 118 balls.
Matthew departed in the latter stages for 119 runs - her ODI career best - after partnerships worth 66 with captain Stafanie Taylor (30), 60 with Shemaine Campbell (20) and 55 with Chedean Nation (36), but a flurry of late wickets saw the West Indies lose 4/26, before a lower order cameo from Anisa Mohammed lifted them to 259/9 from their 50 overs.
Lea Tahuhu was the pick of New Zealand's attack with 3/57, but can feel aggrieved, after having two catches put down off her bowling. Sisters Jess Kerr (2/43) and Amelia Kerr (1/33) also stood out with the ball, both completing their 10-over spells for less than five an over.
But needing a NZ World Cup record for victory, the White Ferns chase got off to the worst possible start, as Devine's straight drive was deflected back onto the stumps by bowler Chinelle Henry, running non-striker Suzie Bates out for three.
Matthews' impact on the game then carried across into her bowling, trapping Amelia Kerr leg before wicket for 13, as the White Ferns slide to 47/2.
That could have easily been 75/3, when Devine was given a life on 37, dropped by Shamillia Connell, off the bowling of Aaliyah Alleyne. Devine and Amy Satterthwaite added 76 runs together for the third wicket, before two quick wickets swung proceedings the Windies' way.
First, Satterthwaite was trapped in front by Anisa Mohammed for 31 and Lea Tahuhu sent up the order as a pinch hitter. The experiment failed, as Tahuhu departed from Mohammed's next ball, bowled for six.
Maddy Green (nine) and Brooke Halliday (three) both failed to support Devine, as the Ferns fell from 123/2 to 162/6. Halliday's wicket gave Matthews her second, as she finished with 2/41 from her 10 overs to go with her century.
Martin arrived at the crease in the 35th over and put on 53 in 57 balls with Devine, helping her captain through to her century off 117 balls.
But needing 45 runs from 36 balls, Devine departed to a stunning caught and bowled by Henry at the start of the 45th over, leaving the rest of the chase to Martin and Kerr.
Some lusty blows saw Martin reduce the equation to six needed from six, but the final-over collapse ensured New Zealand would open their tournament with an unwanted loss.
Captain Devine insists the White Ferns will be better for the experience.
"We'll take positives out of it and move on quickly," she says. "We have to embrace the pressure, being the host nation.
"We play our best cricket when we have a smile on our face, now we have to dust ourselves off.
"It's a quick turnaround and that's the best thing for us. The energy Bangladesh bring is quite contagious, we know what a dangerous side they are."
West Indies 259/9 (Matthews 119, Tahuhu 3/57) New Zealand 256 (Devine 108, Dottin 2/2, Matthews 2/41)
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