England crushed the New Zealand women by nine wickets at Bert Sutcliffe Oval yesterday to make it 2-2 in the one-day series.
The deciding fifth game will be held at the same venue tomorrow.
England, hoping to back up its 2-1 win in the T20 series, chased down New Zealand's meagre total of 168 with nearly 18 overs to spare yesterday.
Captain Charlotte Edwards (64 not out) and wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor (89 not out) combined in a magnificent unbroken partnership of 158 for the second wicket.
Earlier, the White Ferns scrapped and fought to push on to their moderate total after another disappointing batting display.
The side always seems to take it hard when star batsman Suzie Bates falls cheaply - it has possibly been happening more often lately than Bates would like - and yesterday followed that theme.
Bates fell for seven and fellow opener Rachel Priest for six, leaving Amy Satterthwaite (27) and Kate Broadmore (22) to pick up the pieces from 15 for two.
Another cluster of wickets had the White Ferns teetering at 99 for eight, before some late resistance from Lea Tahuhu (26) and Morna Nielsen (20).
The star of a generally impressive English bowling attack was 23-year-old Kate Cross, who got a five-wicket bag in just her eighth one-day international. Cross finished with five for 24 off 10 overs.
