JOIN US England beat New Zealand by three wickets via Duckworth/Lewis Method to win the fifth one-day international at the Riverside on Saturday and clinch the series 3-2.
Jonny Bairstow, only playing after injury ruled out first choice wicket-keeper Jos Buttler, made 83 not out as England, chasing a revised target of 192 in 26 overs, finished on 192 for seven with six balls to spare.
New Zealand, after losing the toss, made 283 for nine in their full 50 overs.
Martin Guptill top-scored with 67, Kane Williamson made exactly 50 and
Ben Wheeler bolstered the total with a quickfire 39 not out.
All-rounder Ben Stokes took three for 52 on his Durham home ground and leg-spinner Adil Rashid two for 45.
In England’s chase, Sam Billings played a superb cameo of 41 from just 30 balls and gave perfect support to Bairstow.
The right-handed Bairstow, who scored the winning run, smashed 11 fours in his knock of 60 balls.
Earlier, all-rounder Ben Stokes led England’s attack with three for 52 in a maximum 10 overs on his Durham home ground.
Leg-spinner Adil Rashid, whose eight overs in England’s series-levelling seven-wicket win at Trent Bridge on Wednesday cost an expensive 75 runs, bounced back well with two for 45 in 10 overs.
New Zealand opener Martin Guptill and the in-form Kane Williamson both spurred New Zealand’s batting, while Ross Taylor, dropped on 19, made 47.
Their total did see New Zealand exceed their previous highest aggregate for a five-match ODI series of 1,460 runs set against India in 2014/15.
After rain delayed the start, England captain Eoin Morgan saw his decision to field first rewarded with a wicket in the first over.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, one ball after lofting Finn for six, played on to Morgan’s Middlesex team-mate.
score board
New Zealand
Guptill c Bairstow b Stokes 67
McCullum b Finn 6
Williamson b Stokes 50
Taylor c Bairstow b Willey 47
Santner b Rashid 2
Elliott st Bairstow b Rashid 35
Ronchi c Morgan b Willey 2
Wheeler (not out) 39
Southee b Stokes 18
Henry c Stokes b Finn 12
Mathieson (not out) 0
Extras (LB-3, W-2) 5
Total (9 wkts, 50 overs) 283
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-101, 3-150, 4-155, 5-210, 6-212, 7-219, 8-244, 9-267.
Bowling: Finn 10-0-73-2; Willey 10-0-50-2; Wood 10-0-60-0; Stokes 10-0-52-3; Rashid 10-0-45-2.
ENGLAND
Roy c Guptill b Mathieson 12
Hales c Williamson b Santner 1
Root st Ronchi b Santner 4
Morgan c Guptill b Santner 0
Stokes c McCullum b Wheeler 17
Bairstow (not out) 83
Billings c Taylor b Henry 41
Willey c Santner b Wheeler 7
Rashid (not out) 12
Extras (B-1, LB-6, W-8) 15
Total (for 7 wkts; 25 overs) 192
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-20, 3-20, 4-40, 5-45, 6-125, 7-138.
Bowling: Southee 4-0-28-0, Santner 6-0-31-3, Wheeler 5-0-33-2, Mathieson 4-0-40-1, Henry 5-0-37-1, Elliott 1-0-16-0.