An explosive Brendon McCullum wrecked the best bowling England could offer as New Zealand overcame a mid-innings crisis to win the one-day cricket decider by 34 runs yesterday.
The overwhelming win gave New Zealand the five-match series 3-1, with one game tied, and importantly gave them a psychological boost going into the three Tests next month.
With New Zealand set a target of 243 to win, McCullum's explosive start saw them reach 213 for six with 13 overs remaining when rain brought an early end to the game.
Under the Duckworth-Lewis system New Zealand only needed 179 in 37 overs.
Despite the series going down to the final game, New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori described the winning margin as "emphatic."
With McCullum caning the England bowling at will, New Zealand raced to 100 in just 11 overs before losing their first wicket when Jesse Ryder was run out by Kevin Pietersen for 24.
Their century stand was not without risks -- Ian Bell dropped Ryder on one in the second over and Phil Mustard put down McCullum on 33 in the seventh.
McCullum responded to his life by smacking Ryan Sidebottom for two successive sixes as part of an innings haul of six sixes and five fours.
Following the fall of Ryder, McCullum continued his charge for another five overs, reaching 77 off 43 balls before surrendering his wicket to Paul Collingwood.
When he departed, New Zealand were 118 for two and although the scoring rate then slowed, and three wickets fell at one stage for the addition of only one run, the result was never in serious doubt.
England had a whiff of turning the tide when James Anderson took the wicket of Scott Styris for 25 and one run later Ryan Sidebottom had debutant Daniel Flynn and Jacob Oram in consecutive balls.
But the New Zealand batting had depth. Jamie How made 24, while Ross Taylor was unbeaten on 41 with Vettori on seven when the game was abruptly ended.
On a pitch which offered the batsmen plenty, England's 242 for seven was rather flattering.
Dimitri Mascarenhas belted 22 off the final over to complete a 65-run surge over the final five overs to lift the innings out of mediocrity and Collingwood believed 242 was defendable were it not for McCullum and Ryder.
Vettori had put England into bat after winning the toss on the grounds that his side performs best when chasing a total.
Wright top scored for England with 47 off 40 balls, but the top-order scored at pedestrian rate.
Kyle Mills, the pick of the New Zealand bowlers, finished with four for 36.
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