The White Ferns' hopes of reaching the Cricket World Cup semi-finals are all but gone, after they suffered a heartbreaking one-wicket defeat to England at Auckland's Eden Park.
Reduced to 196/9 in their chase of 204, England's last pair scored the eight runs needed to see their side home, keeping their own chances of reaching the semis alive and - for now - avoiding the embarrassment of an early exit as defending champions.
Figures of 4/34 to Frances Mackay got the NZ women closer than they deserved in defence of such a low score at Eden Park, while England's thanks lie solely at the feet of Nat Sciver, whose 61 made up the bulk of their run chase.
Ultimately, New Zealand's efforts with the bat let them down, as they failed to bat out their 50 overs for the fourth time this tournament. The loss comes after similar nailbiters against West Indies and South Africa.
Mathematically, the Ferns still hold a slim chance of reaching the semi-finals, but would need to beat winless Pakistan in their final pool match on Saturday, and hope both England and India lose their last two pool matches.
England face Pakistan on Thursday and Bangladesh next Sunday, while India face Bangladesh on Tuesday and South Africa on Sunday.
Should either England or India win one of their last two games, they'd move to six points and be likely ahead of New Zealand on net run rate.
The West Indies are also in contention for a semi-final spot and with six points already in the bank, they would also have to lose both remaining games by a heavy margin to bring the home side back into contention.
After England won the toss and opted to bowl first, the White Ferns got off to their best start of the tournament, as opening pair Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine added 61 for the first wicket, but once Bates fell for 22, the wheels well and truly fell off their innings.
At 67/1, captain Devine was forced to retire, after hurting her back running between wickets, then Amelia Kerr (24) and Amy Satterthwaite (24) both failed to cash in on New Zealand's start.
From 134/2, the White Ferns slipped to 155/6, as Devine valiantly returned to the crease with her injury. Clearly in pain, she added just four runs to her score, before she was caught at long-on, off the bowling of Charlie Dean, for 37.
Amid the fall of wickets, Maddy Green stood tall with an unbeaten 52 from 75 balls, as New Zealand were bowled out for 203 with seven balls still left in their innings.
Kate Cross finished as the pick of England's bowlers with 3/35, backed up by the spin duo of Sophie Ecclestone (3/41) and Dean (2/36).
Devine's injury saw her sit out of the White Ferns' defence of 204, as Satterthwaite assumed the captaincy.
Needing to take wickets, Jess Kerr struck with the ball to remove opener Danni Wyatt at 17/1, undone by an outstanding catch by an outstretched Hannah Rowe.
Lea Tahuhu then created history, bowling Tammy Beaumont for 23 to become New Zealand's all-time leading wicket-taker in women's one day internationals, passing Aimee Watkins with her 93rd scalp.
But Tahuhu joined the New Zealand casualty ward not long after, suffering a recurrence of the hamstring injury sustained against India earlier this year and limping from the field.
Missing their strike bowler, the White Ferns could only watch on, as England captain Heather Knight and Nat Sciver ate into the target with a 45-run stand.
Knight fell for 42, out leg before wicket, trying to sweep Frances Mackay, while Amy Jones came and went, thanks to an inspired bowling change from Satterthwaite, as Brooke Halliday removed England's wicketkeeper for one.
Sciver combined with Sophia Dunkley (33) in a partnership worth 70 runs, only broken by a perfect off-spinner's wicket from Mackay. A flighted delivery turned past Dunkley's bat to rattle off-stump and also rattle England, as they closed in on what should have been a comfortable win.
Three overs later, after a 97-ball half-century, Sciver's vigil came to an end, when she played across the line to Jess Kerr and was bowled at 187/6 - still 17 runs away from victory.
Rain falling over Eden Park proved to be the game-changer the White Ferns needed, altering the surface in Mackay's favour. Ecclestone was bowled, edging a pull shot back onto her stumps at 192/7, before Mackay had her fourth scalp, trapping Cross lbw for two.
When England's last recognised batter, Katherine Brunt, was run out by Green and Martin for six, the Ferns sniffed victory. From 176/4, England had collapsed to 196/9.
But Tahuhu's injury left New Zealand a bowler short, forcing Halliday to step up and bowl at the death.
Tailender Anya Shrubsole kept her composure by driving the first ball of the 48th over for four to level scores at 203/9, then finished the job one ball later by shovelling the winning run through midwicket.
The loss leaves the White Ferns in sixth on the World Cup table, with two wins and four defeats, and just one game left to play.
But unless results against India, England and the West Indies go New Zealand's way, they face the ignominy of being eliminated from their own tournament in pool play.
New Zealand 203 (Green 52no, Cross 3/35, Ecclestone 3/41) England 204/9 (Sciver 61, Mackay 4/34)
England win by one wicket
