ICC Women's World Cup, Visakhapatnam New Zealand 168 (38.2 overs): Plimmer 43 (57); Smith 3-30 England 172-2 (29.2 overs): Jones 86* (92); Tahuhu 1-9 England won by eight wickets

England will take winning momentum into the semi-finals of the Women's World Cup as they concluded the group stage with a crushing eight-wicket victory over New Zealand in Visakhapatnam.

In a bizarre first innings, England were uncharacteristically sloppy with the ball but a New Zealand side lacking in confidence failed to punish them and were bowled out for 168 in 38.2 overs. Linsey Smith, who particularly struggled with a loss of control in the powerplay, ended up with figures of 3-30 but England are waiting on the fitness of Sophie Ecclestone, who only bowled four balls in the innings after injuring her shoulder following a misfield in the first over.

England were then ruthless in the chase, cruising to their target in 29.2 overs with opener Amy Jones finishing unbeaten on 86. Jones added 75 for the first wicket with Tammy Beaumont, who made 40, and 83 with Heather Knight who fell for 33 with England on the brink of victory but it was a welcome return to winning form after their defeat by Australia.

New Zealand were already eliminated, but it marked a significant occasion as veteran all-rounder Sophie Devine played her 159th and final one-day international.

After the soft dismissal of Suzie Bates to one of a few full tosses from Smith, Melie Kerr and Georgia Plimmer rebuilt with a steady stand of 68 before the game shifted in the space of two balls, with the former falling to Alice Capsey for 35 and Plimmer pinned lbw by Charlie Dean for 43. Devine made 23 in her final knock but England dominated the middle overs to take the final five wickets for just 13 runs, with two apiece for Capsey and Nat Sciver-Brunt.

England travel to Guwahati for their semi-final against South Africa, which takes place on Wednesday, followed by India v Australia the following day. This victory ensures England finish second in the group and if the semi-final is washed out on both Wednesday and the reserve day they would progress by virtue of their higher finish in the groups.

Smith's role in the powerplay has been a huge success for England throughout the tournament so far, but in the only early start of the group stage - with England having already qualified - it was curiously sloppy. Smith lost her rhythm with an array of full tosses and drag downs while seamer Lauren Bell also bowled too short as New Zealand reached 57-1 at the end of the powerplay. It was the sort of performance England would not get away with against Australia in particular but New Zealand, whose poor campaign has been thwarted by the rain in Colombo, were unable to capitalise.

Smith was gifted the wicket of Bates, who chipped to mid-off, before fellow opener Plimmer and Kerr looked untroubled and played with much more intent in attempting to punish England's inconsistency. But Kerr threw her wicket away, caught at long-on off Capsey - who performed brilliantly as a part-timer in the absence of Ecclestone - and Plimmer was trapped on the crease which prompted England's shift in momentum.

Ecclestone attempted to bowl after she had landed awkwardly while failing to save a boundary, and Brooke Halliday had a shocking lapse in judgement as she slogged out to deep mid-wicket for four, only for the spinner to leave the field immediately after. Devine nicked behind to Jones which prompted an emotional trudge from the field, as she joined the ranks of New Zealand batters guilty of making a start but failing to kick on despite England's off-day with the ball. They hit a good line and length with just 29.7% of their balls bowled, which was the lowest for any game of the competition.

The tournament generally has been a cruel goodbye for one of the game's finest servants in Devine, who has been vocal about the disappointment surrounding the scheduling in Sri Lanka's monsoon season, but she is expected to continue in the T20 format, in which New Zealand are world champions.

After a tricky start to the tournament for England's openers, Jones and Beaumont have enjoyed the more batter-friendly surfaces of Indore and Vizag to find promising form as the knockouts approach. Jones made her first half-century of the tournament against India before Beaumont followed suit against Australia, and it was the latter who initially took the game on in the powerplay as New Zealand's seamers strayed both sides of the wicket.

In scorching and humid conditions, England would have been grateful for the low target but Jones and Beaumont added their fourth stand of more than fifty – the most of any team in the tournament – without giving a chance. Beaumont was trapped lbw by Lea Tahuhu which allowed Jones to take responsibility, reaching a 71-ball half-century with a six. Knight also continued her fine form before she was also pinned in front by Devine – which again sparked emotion as there were joyful celebrations for her final ODI wicket. Knight's dismissal gave Danni Wyatt-Hodge a brief stint in the middle as she was brought in to the middle order for the struggling Emma Lamb, but there were only 11 runs required for victory when she came to the crease before Jones whacked her 11th four to seal a comprehensive win.

England's batters will have to adapt again, however, to the slower and spin-friendly surface in Guwahati - though they bowled South Africa out for 69 at the same venue in their opener, and they also come in to the game on the back of a thumping from Australia.