New Zealand squared their one-day international series with England as the White Ferns claimed a six-wicket win by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method in Cardiff.
A rain-affected day in the Welsh capital ended as persistent drizzle finally forced the players from the field at 6.57pm with 50 balls remaining of an even contest.
New Zealand, chasing a DLS-adjusted target of 184 from 33 overs, had reached 141 for four off 24.4 – 17 runs above the DLS par of 124.
So the tourists levelled the series at 1-1 with one game being completely wiped out by the weather.
It was no surprise New Zealand skipper Melie Kerr chose to field after winning the toss as a greenish wicket offered bowlers added assistance in gloomy overhead conditions.
Charlie Dean admitted England would have bowled first too and Emma Lamb departed in the second over, rejecting the option of a review despite appearing to be unconvinced that she had snicked Bree Illing behind.
England reached 45 for one from the 10-over powerplay before Jodi Grewcock was caught by the diving Izzy Gaze off Rosemary Mair.
Alice Capsey survived an lbw review from Mair on six as drizzle began to fall and brollies went up around Sophia Gardens.
The umpires stuck it out and Heather Knight, who had been untroubled, dangled a bat to Iling and Gaze took a third catch to end her 42-ball 28.
Heavier rain took the players off at 1.22pm with England 77 for three after 17 overs, and they did not return until 3.45pm.
Capsey and Freya Kemp put on 57 before the latter found Mair at long-on and went for 20.
England lost three wickets for four runs as Capsey spooned up a simple catch on 45 – her second-highest ODI score – and Dani Gibson was bowled by Nensi Patel.
But England rallied as Amy Jones (27) and Dean (16 not out) added 45 for the seventh wicket from 34 balls, the hosts finishing 181 for seven.
Bell’s new-ball burst put New Zealand on the back foot with Suzie Bates, making her 184th and final ODI appearance, the first of three lbw victims.
Bates – dropped from Bell’s previous delivery low at slip by Knight – was quickly followed back to the hutch by Kerr and Georgia Plimmer and New Zealand were behind the DLS rate at 40 for three.
New Zealand got on top of spinners Sophie Ecclestone and Dean with Maddy Green striking five fours in a 43-ball 37 before Gibson bowled her.
The rain returned with New Zealand managing to get above the par score again.
Player of the match Brooke Halliday (42 not out from 54 balls) and Gaze (22 not out from 23 balls) shared a crucial partnership of 44, and did not require a second invitation to leave proceedings as the weather closed in.
The two teams now head into a three-match T20 series as preparation for next month’s World Cup ramps up.
