Brendon McCullum, bowlers help New Zealand level T20 series against England

He fell in the penultimate ball of the innings, although James Franklin still managed a four off the final delivery.

Jade Dernbach was the pick of the England bowlers, taking three wickets for 38 runs.

But England made a disastrous start to their innings when Mitchell McClenaghan clean bowled Alex Hales for five in the second over then dismissed Luke Wright, one of the heroes of the Auckland win, for a golden duck with his next ball.

Jonny Bairstow followed three overs later, tentatively dabbing an Ian Butler short ball to McClenaghan to leave the tourists at 24 for three.

Michael Lumb tried to lift the over rate but was bowled for 17 after charging down the wicket at a Nathan McCullum delivery, with dangerman Eoin Morgan falling to Butler in the next over for 13.

Trent Boult turned the screws by running out Samit Patel in spectacular fashion, firing the ball directly into the stumps from the mid-off boundary.

A forgettable night for Broad, who leaked 53 runs from four overs with the ball, ended when he was caught for one after facing just three deliveries.

Buttler and Tredwell showed glimpses of what England's batting line-up is capable of late in the innings but by then too many wickets had fallen and any chance of victory had long since evaporated.

The final match of the series will be played in Wellington on Friday.

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