Hamilton, New Zealand, Feb 13 : England were outclassed on Tuesday night as New Zealand wrapped up a 55-run win to level the three-match Twenty20 international series at 1-1.
Martin Guptill (47) and Hamish Rutherford (40) added 75 for the first wicket after England won the toss.
Captain Brendon McCullum smashed five sixes, making 74 from 38 balls as a late assault lifted the Kiwis to 192-6. England lost early wickets and despite Jos Buttler's spirited 54, were bowled out for 137 with three balls to spare.
McCullum then oversaw a committed, penetrative bowling display a New Zealand squared the T20 series at Seddon Park. The decider match will be played at Wellington on Friday night.
Having carried his team to 192 for six, McCullum then found his seamers, Mitchell McClenaghan and Ian Butler, bang on the job.
After Stuart Broad had elected to field first, spinner James Tredwell was handed the new ball for the first time in a T20.
The Kiwi openers made an excellent start, and when Rutherford edged Luke Wright to wicketkeeper Buttler in the ninth over, the stage had been set for McCullum to move up through the gears.
A late assault on the England seamers allowed New Zealand to add 46 in the last three overs, with McCullum clubbing Broad for three sixes in the penultimate over to ensure the England skipper, who had taken 4-24 in Auckland, finished with 0-53 from his four overs.
The England chase began disastrously as Alex Hales was bowled by left-arm seamer Mitchell McClenaghan, who was on a hat-trick in the second over after Wright edged his first ball to Guptill at gully.
Left armer McClenaghan removed Alex Hales with a beauty, then dangerous Luke Wright with his third and fourth deliveries.
Butler, back after a two-year absence, took a wicket with his third ball, added a second, and walked away with terrific figures of two for nine off his four overs.
England were way behind the comparative rate from early on and at 47 for five, in 10.1 overs, there was no way back, eventually being dismissed for 137.
There was a late flourish in vain from in-form wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, 54 off 30 balls featuring scoop shots and rockets blasted back down the ground, before James Franklin cleaned up the tail.
