New Zealand have been soundly beaten by Australia in their women's Twenty20 cricket world cup pool match in Guyana.
Chasing 154 to win the White Ferns were all out for 120, to lose by 33 runs.
The loss means New Zealand are all but assured from not making the knockout phase of the tournament while Australia have won both their matches to advance to the finals stage.
Batting first after winning the toss Australia got off to a flying start with openes Alyssa Healy (53) and Beth Mooney (26) put on 71 for the opening stand before losing Mooney in the ninth over.
Susie Bates. Photo: Photosport
A lacklustre bowling and fielding effort didn't help the White Ferns with their bowler often short and wide on the slow Guyana pitch.
Healy hit eight boundaries in her innings but New Zealand were left to rue dropping her off a straight forward chance to Amelia Kerr at cover when she was on 11.
Offspinner Leigh Kasperek with 3-25 was the most successful of the New Zealand bowlers with Sophie Devine 2-37 the next best.
New Zealand's run chase began poorly as they slumped to 13 for three with Anna Petersen and Sophie Devine both making ducks, while skipper Amy Satterthwaite made just two.
Susie Bates who top scored with 48 and Katey Martin, 24, put on 66 for the fourth wicket to give the White Ferns some hope.
However when Martin went with the score at 79, it all rested on Bates shoulders.
But her dismissal left New Zealand 99-7 and the remaining wickets fell quickly with White Ferns all out for 120 and captain Amy Satterthwaite was the first to tell Sky Sport the performance wasn't good enough.
"Obviously disappointed in all three facets in a way we were outplayed, you can't be losing eight to ten wickets consistently and expect to win big matches," she says
"We need someone else scoring runs at the other end and there are a few chipping but probably not getting big enough scores."
"We did execute our plan in patches but we've still got to increase that consistency. There are glimpses of hope with the bat as well so just need players to step up in the moments that we need."
Look back on the match commentary here:
