A rousing all-round performance from Katherine Brunt was not enough to drag England over the line as New Zealand kept the women's one-day international series alive with a three-wicket victory at Leicester.

Looking for a third successive victory to seal the five-match contest, England were held to a modest 178 all out, sowing plenty of doubt in the chase but ultimately unable to finish things off.

Brunt, returning to the side after being rested, rescued an underperforming batting line-up with an unbeaten 49 from No. 9 and then got back to her day job, leading the attack with outstanding figures of four for 22.

In the end the White Ferns found matchwinners of their own in Maddy Green, whose calm 70 not appeared to come from a different match entirely, and Lea Tahuhu. Having already starred with five for 37 in the first innings, Tahuhu eased late nerves with a breezy 19 not out and finished things 25 balls ahead of time with a steepling six down the ground.

England now lead the five-match series 2-1.