Black Ferns (from left) Suzie Bates, Lea Tahuhu and Sophie Devine receive the guard of honour as they retire from T20 internationals after the T20 World Cup match against England, at The Oval, London, yesterday. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Three retiring White Ferns greats did not get the farewell they wanted.

The White Ferns are out of the T20 World Cup after being thumped by England in their final pool game yesterday.

England won by nine wickets, chasing down New Zealand’s 163 for six with 14 balls to spare.

The White Ferns had been given a life when Ireland unexpectedly beat the West Indies earlier in the day, but the English quickly snuffed out their hopes of advancing.

The defeat ended the career of Otago great Suzie Bates, along with fellow retiring players Sophie Devine and Lea Tahuhu.

‘‘Not every player gets that moment,’’ Bates said after she and her team-mates got a guard of honour.

‘‘Incredible moment, regardless of the result.’’

New Zealand batted first, scoring 163 for six with captain Melie Kerr top-scoring with 42 from 34 balls.

Devine looked sharp in her last international innings, scoring an impressive 30 off 14 balls, including three sixes.

Otago great Bates scored 19 off 13 balls. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Bates also batted well, run out on the final ball after scoring 19 off 13 balls.

But England made short work of the chase, due to an unbeaten second-wicket partnership between Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Sophia Dunkley.

The pair batted superbly, combining for an unbroken stand of 128 to guide England home by nine wickets with 14 balls to spare.

Wyatt-Hodge was named player of the match, scoring 89 not out off 53 balls, while Dunkley finished 49 not out off 38 balls.

The defeat was not the way the three New Zealanders would have wanted to leave international cricket, but all three had stellar careers.

Devine played 316 white-ball games for New Zealand in a 20-year career, and Tahuhu 206 games over 15 years.

Bates is run out in the last over. PHOTO: ACTION IMAGES VIA REUTERS

Bates retires as the most-capped and highest-scoring White Fern of all time with 10,721 runs in her 369 games.

‘‘The saddest part is three legends of the game leave our environment and women’s cricket,’’ Kerr said.

‘‘They’ll be missed and we’ll celebrate them tonight.

‘‘Those three mentored me and I’ve played 10 years of my career with them. Very grateful to play with them.’’

The White Ferns were the defending T20 World Cup champions but their tournament started poorly with two losses and it was uphill from there.

‘‘I think we can all recognise it’s been disappointing,’’ Kerr said.

‘‘A lot to work on.’’ — RNZ/Allied Media