The White Ferns have finished fourth in the ICC Women’s World Cup in India, having lost to England by four wickets in the play-off for third at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai.
An unbeaten 106 from English captain Charlotte Edwards helped to chase down the White Fern’s 220 for eight with 3.3 overs to spare. The New Zealand side had earlier recovered from a difficult start with the bat, thanks to 85 from Amy Satterthwaite.
Despite some significant wobbles late in the piece, England’s top-order produced valuable partnership for their side, with Edwards at the centre of all of them.
Sarah Taylor (26), Lydia Greenway (31) and Arran Brindle (27) all produced handy cameos in the pursuit and alongside Edwards combined to put their side in complete control at 199 for three.
However, with only 22 required for victory England lost three wickets for as many runs, giving the White Fern’s a sniff of an unlikely comeback. Edwards too was lucky to survive, having seemingly edged one on 99 off the bowling off Lea Tahuhu.
In the end though it was England who prevailed, with Edwards capping off a fantastic innings by bringing up her eighth career One Day International ton. Laura Marsh stuck around with her skipper to score the winning runs and finished with an important 13 not out.
Lucy Doolan was the chief wicket-taker with three for 50 from her ten overs, while Sian Ruck was next best with two for 20 from ten overs.
Earlier, Satterthwaite had played a steady hand with the bat for the White Ferns, while not really getting the opportunity to form a substantial partnership with anyone. Four players had scores of 20 or more, but all fell short of a half-century. 
Suzie Bates got the ball rolling with 21, taking her overall tally for the tournament to 401 runs at an average of 67.83. She is currently the leading run-scorer across all teams, holding an 82 run lead over the West Indies Stafanie Taylor in second, who has one game remaining against Australia.
Satterthwaite anchored the innings through to the 47th over, while Katie Perkins (20) and Nicola Browne (28*) chimed in to lift the White Ferns past the 200 mark.
It was a valiant attempt with the bat, particularly considering the way England had taken regular wickets in the opening stages of the match.
Holly Colvin proved the most difficult to handle, snaring three wickets in her ten overs for 31. Arran Brindle also had an impact with two for 38.
