BEIJING, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- Britain (3-3) ousted New Zealand (2-4) 2-1 on Friday to book a berth for playoff by a last-gasp two-run single at women's softball championship, which is functioning as the first Olympic test event in Beijing.

    The sixth round-robin preliminary match between Britain and NewZealand will decide the last berth for playoff in the tournament. The two teams shared the same win-loss record before the game.

    Kimberley Kaye and Terra Davenport scored the two winning runs on Katy Wilkins's single in the life-and-death bottom seventh, shuttering New Zealand's hope of advancing.

    Both teams started slow to end the first four innings scoreless. Katrina Stockford took the advantage of Melanie Huime's batting to establish New Zealand a 1-0 lead.

    Heather Brown started to pitch for Britain in 4 2/3 innings, allowing one hit and two walks with no strikeout. Eighteen-year-old rookie Stacie Townsend came up as reliever to close the game with one strikeout, giving up one run and one hit.

    New Zealand starter Alisha Arnold pitched a complete game, dropping five hits and one walk with six strikeouts.

    The collapse in very last moment dismayed New Zealand coach Mike Walsh. "We played the best we could. We have problems in hitting the whole week. (The loss) Still hurts," said Walsh.

    "Ali (Arnold) had a good game but the last inning. We should score more runs for her. We need better hitting skills," he added.

    "They feel very low now, and the tournament is over for us."

    "Hopefully we can win over DPR Korea tomorrow."

    There top four from the Championship will be qualified to play in Beijing Olympic Game, with hosts China an automatic qualification. Enditem