White Ferns captain Sophie Devine. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The White Ferns could only watch as hopes of a place in the semifinals of the T20 World Cup in South Africa were extinguished in Cape Town on Wednesday morning.
New Zealand needed the winless Bangladesh to upset the hosts in the final group game of the tournament - instead the match went as the form guide suggested it would. South Africa won by 10 wickets to send the White Ferns home ruing what could have been.
The White Ferns have not made the semifinals of a T20 World Cup since 2016.
After starting this year's tournament with heavy losses to Australia (by 97 runs) and South Africa (by 65 runs) the White Ferns returned to winning ways against Bangladesh (by 71 runs) and Sri Lanka (by 102 runs).
The defending champions Australia went through Group 1 unbeaten to finish top of the group. New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka all had two wins and two losses and net run-rate decided which side progressed to the final four alongside Australia.
South Africa had the superior run-rate, knocking New Zealand out of second spot.
After the shaky start to the tournament White Ferns captain Sophie Devine said she was "embarrassed" by her sides showing at the world event.
However following New Zealand's final group game on Monday allrounder Amelia Kerr was philosophical about what the team could take from the tournament.
"Disappointing start but I think to turn it around these last two games has been pleasing but there's definitely learnings and it's probably as simple as playing straight and being tough in tough periods," Kerr said.
Earlier on Wednesday, in Group 2, England smashed the highest-ever score at a Women's T20 World Cup to go unbeaten in the group stages.
Vice-captain Nat Sciver-Brunt's 81 not out led England to a record score of 213-5, to become the first women's team to pass 200 runs in T20 world cups.
England then ripped through the Pakistan batting order to win by 114 runs in Cape Town, inflicting the heaviest defeat in the history of the tournament.
The previous highest winning margin in the tournament was 113 runs, recorded by South Africa against Thailand in 2020.
England, who claimed the T20 World Cup in 2009, face South Africa in the second semifinal on Saturday in Cape Town.
Australia face India in the first semifinal on Friday.
The final is on Monday.