New Zealand beat England in their fifth and final one-day international at Christchurch on Saturday to win their series 3-1.

The Kiwis were awarded victory by 34 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method when the match ended early because of heavy rain.

England had made 242 for seven from their 50 overs and New Zealand were cruising along at 213 for six after 37 overs when play was abandoned. New Zealand were adjudged comfortable winners because they were well ahead of England’s adjusted rate of 179.

New Zealand’s wicketkeeper-batsmen Brendon McCullum was named player of the match after smashing 77 off only 43 balls.

McCullum set the Kiwis on course for victory when he raced to his half-century off only 27 deliveries and belted five fours and six sixes before he was bowled by Paul Collingwood.

Ross Taylor finished with an unbeaten 41, while Jesse Ryder (24), Jamie How (24) and Scott Styris (25) all kept the scoreboard ticking along.

Ryan Sidebottom captured three late wickets, including two in successive balls, to give England some hope of pulling off an unlikely win before the rain intervened.

New Zealand seamer Kyle Mills dismissed Phil Mustard (two), Ian Bell (24), Owais Shah (29) and England's top-scorer Luke Wright (47) to finish with figures of four for 36 and restrict England to a modest total.

The tourists, who needed to win the match to square the series after salvaging a dramatic tie in the fourth match in Napier, looked like they may have to settle for a smaller score before some late lusty hitting from the tailenders.