New Zealand have defeated England by 13 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method in the second one-day international to tie the series at 1-1.
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The Three Lions needed 399 runs to win the second match of the series after the Kiwis managed to post a mammoth 398-5 in their innings thanks to a century from Ross Taylor.
England got off to a strong start in their reply as Jason Roy and Alex Hales took the attack to the tourists and managed to reach 85 without loss in the 12th over.
However, Roy soon departed for 39 when he was caught by Ross Taylor off the bowling of Nathan McCullum, while Joe Root followed him back to the pavilion for just six.
Alex Hales reached his half-century, but then went for one big shot too many as he was caught on the boundary for 54 to leave the Three Lions 100-3.
Skipper Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes got the innings back on track with lusty blows around the ground of the Kiwis' spinners, but Brendon McCullum moved to bring Mitchell McClenaghan back into the attack to remove Stokes for 28.
Morgan and Jos Buttler put on a good partnership to power England over the 250-run mark, but Trent Boult snagged the important scalp of Buttler to send him back to the pavilion for 41.
The Three Lions captain looked on pace to break the fastest century made by a England player, but he fell 12 runs short of his ton.
Sam Billings fell cheaply, but Liam Plunkett and Adil Rashid led a late rally to bring the home side within striking distance of the victory total before rain interrupted play.
The delay brought about a change in the totals as England required 34 runs off 13 deliveries when play resumed. Although Plunkett hit one big six he was soon out for 44, while Rashid was spectacularly caught on the boundary following excellent teammwork by Tim Southee and Boult.
Steven Finn and Chris Jordan couldn't pull off an unlikely win off the final over as the Kiwis levelled the series at The Oval.
Simon Sinclair
