Third international one-day, Uptonsteel County Ground in Leicester England 178 (48.3 runs): Brunt 49*; Tahuhu 5-38; Penfold 2-48 New Zealand 186-7 (45.5 runs): Green 70*. Brunt 4-22 New Zealand won the series by three wickets.
Lea Tahuhu was the star of New Zealand's team as they lost to England by three wickets in Leicester in the third match of the five-match international series.
Tahuhu, a pace bowler, took 5-38 - her first five wicket haul in ODI cricket – as England fell to 59-6 after being asked to bat.
England were bowled out in nine balls after Katherine Brunt's unbeaten 49 and her 53-run stand alongside number 10 Kate Cross helped them up to 178.
Brunt took 4-22 runs with the new ball as New Zealand struggled to 94-4. Regular wickets meant that the tourists needed 29 runs in the last 10 overs, with only four wickets remaining.
Maddy Green's unbeaten score of 70 was however the mainstay of the innings, as the White Ferns managed to sneak across the line with only 25 balls remaining.
England could have won the series with just two games left, but they paid for a slow start. Brunt's brilliance was not enough to compensate for their lackluster top-order runs.
Tahuhu performed admirably in the White Ferns. Molly Penfold, a fellow seamer, was awarded 2-48 for her international debut.
New Zealand's defeat to Australia was a sign of their low confidence. However, Green held a steady head and guided them to their second win in 20 ODIs.
Tahuhu was the one to win with a six-footer down the ground.
The fourth match will take place at Derby on Thursday, 13:00 BST.
Tahuhu & Penfold combine to torment England
It is strange that Tahuhu was making her maiden ODI five for, considering that she was playing in her 73rd White Ferns appearance.
After a series of operations to remove a precancerous mole from her left foot, her participation in the England tour was canceled. She described the eight-week layoff as mentally challenging after she had to have a skin graft from her left foot to her thigh.
The 30-year old used the trip to motivate herself, especially after she missed the February-March home series against England due to a hamstring injury. Grace, Grace's young sister, is with her husband Amy Satterthwaite on the trip.
Tahuhu was always quick, but now she has the ability to hit the ball with accuracy. Her wickets, except one, were either lbw or bowled. This is a straight-forward tactic that pays off.
Lauren Winfield-Hill and Tammy Beaumont, openers, were caught on the crease by Heather Knight's pace. Captain Heather Knight edged a tempting deliver behind her, and Sophia Dunkley played all her way around her pad before being bowled.
Tahuhu celebrated her fifth wicket, bowling Charlie Dean. She did so with a outstretched arm. Before she was hugged by Satterthwaite as well as her team-mates, Tahuhu yelled and stretched her arms.
Penfold, a London-born 20-year old who played just one season of domestic cricket, but attracted attention for her raw pace.
Similar to Tahuhu's early career, there is a pace but sometimes the radar can stray. She was able to trouble England when she found her rhythm. She was able to slip through Amy Jones' defenses and bowl her for 20. Lauren Down then caught her in a stunning diving catch that ended Danni Wyatt’s stay.
Two fine New Zealand fast bowlers, Penfold and Tahuhu, can cause havoc for teams. They will still need the support of their batting lineup as they work towards their home World Cup.
England fails to bat again
Brunt is a passionate cricketer. Her ability to control her natural attack instincts and dig England out from a hole was admirable, but it was not enough.
England was missing a batter because they chose to rest Natalie Sciver, which meant that there wasn't anyone to stop the middle-order from collapsing.
Brunt-Cross held up New Zealand's push, and maybe took a little bit of confidence from them, given their strong position at Worcester on Sunday.
This run chase was not as hard as it looked, even though Cross and Brunt's accuracy made flowing strokeplay difficult.
Satterthwaite was New Zealand's coach for a time, but she was unable to guide the team. Her cheap dismissal came as she attempted to lift Charlie Dean off the ground. The White Ferns were also left struggling after Sophie Devine, skipper, was bowled for three by Brunt.
Green was unobtrusive, taking only the singles and playing low-risk shots. Tahuhu, on the other hand, seemed determined to win the game. She hit three fours in her 18-ball 19, and one six to bring the side home.
"New Zealand came at our hard" - What they said
Alex Hartley, England World Cup winner, on BBC Test Match Special: "You can reflect on games and games such as those where you get absolutely battered, and you can learn the most." They'll be able to learn from today, and the batting team will know where they went wrong.
Heather Knight, England captain: "It wasn't enough runs. We showed great fight with the ball and bat. The batting is a mystery to me. They are getting out, but it is likely that we are getting out.
Katherine Brunt was a true warrior. She was a great tail-steer and she was a master with the ball. We are losing wickets in groups, and maybe some tired shots, but Lea Tahuhu bowled very well and put us under great pressure. They were very aggressive towards us."
Sophie Devine, New Zealand captain: "It's nice to finally cross the line. Although it was tighter than we would have liked, we still showed resilience.
"Lea was a little like a caged animal. She is now much more accurate. Although she may not be as fast as she used to be, her smarts are starting to shine through.
