England slumped to a 55-run defeat in pursuit of a record Twenty20 run chase as New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum led the hosts to a series-levelling success at Seddon Park in Hamilton.
McCullum (74) hit five sixes and six fours to help New Zealand set England 192 for six - 11 more runs than their best previous chase, against India in Mumbai less than two months ago.
After Mitchell McClenaghan then took two wickets in two balls to leave the tourists nine for two in the second over, only Jos Buttler (54) spared some of England's blushes by carrying them past both their record low score and worst defeat in this format.
McCullum reached his 50 from 32 balls but took even more severe toll of England in the final two overs of the innings as Stuart Broad conceded 22 in his and then Jade Dernbach 16 in the 20th.
Buttler hit nine fours and a six in his 28-ball half-century, but it was a lone hand from England's number six and could salvage a total of only 137 all out.
