Dejected White Ferns skipper Sophie Devine after the England victory. Photo: Matthew Impey / Photosport
The White Ferns have lost their T20 series against England with two matches still remaining, despite an improved showing in game three in Canterbury, Kent.
England won by eight wickets, chasing down the New Zealand total of 141 for eight with four balls to spare.
Player of the match Alice Capsey and Freya Kemp saw England home with Kemp thumping a couple of boundaries off the penultimate over from Leigh Kasperek to ease local worries.
The White Ferns had disappointed in the first two matches of the series and seemed much more determined in this game at the Spitfire Ground, but once again their batting stars lacked support while England's victory chase was made so much easier by dropped catches and misfields.
Suzie Bates brought up her 10,000th international run with a brilliant straight drive for four off the first ball of the match, but the New Zealanders lost Georgia Plimmer later in the same over. Bates (38) and Melie Kerr (23) kept the early run rate ticking over before both fell to Sophie Ecclestone's bowling in the same over.
Skipper Sophie Devine, batting at No. 4, top-scored with an unbeaten 58 off 42 balls, but none of the remaining batters stayed with her for too long. Ecclestone took four for 25.
Hannah Rowe struck with the first ball of England's innings, getting Maia Bouchier lbw, but 19-year-old Capsey and Sophia Dunkley put on 66 for the second wicket.
Left arm spinner Fran Jonas broke through for the White Ferns, taking the wickets of Dunkley and Nat Sciver-Brunt with successive balls, though the latter was left rueing not reviewing her lbw decision as replays showed the ball missing leg stump.
Capsey hit a huge six off Kerr when England needed 28 off 17, and then teamed up with Kemp to see England to victory. They were helped by a Jonas misfield granting them a boundary when they needed four runs off the final ball.
Capsey was unbeaten on 67 and Kemp whacked 16 off eight balls.
Devine said she was proud of her players for bouncing back on what has been a tough tour.
"We asked the group to be more competitive, have fight and ticker and we had that," she told Sky Sports UK.
"We made England play some difficult shots, I'm proud of the spinners unit and the pressure is starting to build.
"I'd like a win but this is international cricket and we're getting closer."
England rested captain Heather Knight for the game.
The fourth match is at the Oval on Sunday.
