Cricket World Cup: England on brink after South Africa defeat

England's hopes of defending the Women's World Cup are hanging by a thread after an agonising three-wicket defeat by South Africa in Mount Maunganui.

With three defeats from as many games, England are not yet eliminated, but will need to win all of their remaining four matches and hope other results go their way to reach the semi-finals.

Taken to 235-9 by half-centuries from Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones, England were once again blighted by a raft of missed chances in the field.

Laura Wolvaardt took advantage of three dropped catches and a missed stumping in making 77.

After she fell, Marizanne Kapp, who earlier took 5-45, inched South Africa closer in the face of some magical bowling from Sophie Ecclestone.

Kapp was out for 32 in the penultimate over, leaving the Proteas four to get from the final set.

Shabnim Ismail swung Nat Sciver over the leg side to give South Africa their first World Cup win over England in 22 years.

England play India at the same venue on Wednesday, when another defeat will effectively end their campaign.

In Monday's other game, tournament debutants Bangladesh earned their first World Cup win in a nine-run defeat of Pakistan.

England paid for errors of their own making in tight losses to Australia and West Indies. Given the stakes, the mistakes made at the Bay Oval were more costly, the defeat more painful.

Replacing Lauren Winfield-Hill with Danni Wyatt did not bring an improvement at the top of the order. Wyatt slashed Kapp to point, Heather Knight misjudged to play on off the same bowler and, when Nat Sciver somehow pulled to slip, England were 42-3.

Beaumont, with 62, and Jones, who made 53, bravely rebuilt but even their dismissals — Beaumont playing across the line and Jones run out by Sophia Dunkley's