| New Zealand 203 (48.5 overs): Green 52*, Cross 3-35, Ecclestone 3-41 |
| England 204-9 (47.2 overs): Sciver 61, Knight 42, Mackay 4-34 |
| England won by one wicket |
| Scorecard.Table |
England are on course for a place in the semi-finals of the Women's World Cup after somehow completing a nerve-shredding one-wicket win over hosts New Zealand.
Defending champion England were being taken to victory by a stand of 70 between NatSciver and Sophia Dunkley.
Dunkley was dismissed for 33 in the first over of the England's collapse of five for 20 runs.
With the rain falling, England needed last-wicket pair Charlie Dean and Anya Shrubsole to score eight runs.
Number 11 Shrubsole, who was England's hero in both the final and semi-final five years ago, drove Brooke Halliday for four to bring the scores level, then hit the winning run from the next ball.
If England beat Pakistan and Bangladesh, they will reach the semi-finals, even if they lose to India and New Zealand.
New Zealand need an unlikely series of results to go their way in order to make the last four.
England have only won one of their first four games, and they are defending the trophy they won last year. This was close to being a shambolic exit.
With New Zealand hampered by on-field injuries, England needed 28 runs with six of their own in hand and more than nine overs remaining. What followed was contrary to belief.
Dunkley played down the wrong line andSciver played an awful cut at Jess Kerr, both of which resulted in their being thrown out.
Kate Cross was run out for a second run after being dismissed for a single, while off-spinner MacKAY was the only one who did not bowl a single over.
It was left to Shrubsole, who was the only bowler to win in the final against India, and who hit the winning runs in the semi-final win over South Africa.
Had it not been for the injuries to Devine and Tahuhu, she wouldn't have been able to hit Halliday, who would not have been bowling had it not been for extra cover for four.
This was the most amazing game in the tournament so far.
The magnitude of the event and the high stakes made it even more memorable.
The defeat would have been more inexplicable if England had lost this game.
They won a crucial toss, only for New Zealand to attack the new-ball bowling.
The injury to Devine was a turning point. She collapsed to her knees after turning for a second run with a back problem.
She was only able to score four more when she returned 24 overs later.
Tahuhu is the most prolific bowler at the World Cup, and she was fired up when she hit Tammy. She had to limp off with a injury.
England won because of luck, but it was not the sole reason.
The result was shaped by the way England and New Zealand played the game.
After opening bowler Brunt and Shrubsole struggled, it took the introduction of back-up seamers Cross andSciver to apply the brakes, with Cross inducing a miscue from Bates before the injury to Devine.
England were always likely to restrict the White Ferns if they could get through the top four.
Dean had Kerr top-edge a sweep and then trapped Satterthwaite in front. England was squeezed from there.
New Zealand's last eight wickets fell for 69 runs, despite the fact that Maddy Green inched her way to 52 not out and Devine was able to return.
Heather Knight's spectacular flying catch to dismiss Tahuhu andSciver's tumbling stop and throw to run out Halliday is evidence the fielding mistakes that plagued England earlier in the tournament might now be behind them.
There is a bit of relief, we will reflect on what we can do better and we can make it easier, but the main thing was getting the win.
NatSciver said that it was crazy that we got over the line. There have been many close games in this tournament.
Alex Hartley, a former England spinner, was on the Test Match Special. It's about coming through in the end.
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