An effectively one legged Ross Taylor has guided the Black Caps to victory in the fourth one day cricket international against England to keep the five match series alive - but it came down to the last over.
Batting first, England made 335 for nine with Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root both scoring centuries to help the tourists to an imposing total.
At two for two England were eyeing a series win but a 187 run fourth wicket stand between Taylor (180 not out) and Tom Latham (71) wrested the game back New Zealand's way when the run rate at one stage had closed in on 10 an over.
Ross Taylor celebrates his 19th ODI century. Photo: Photosport
Going into the last over New Zealand needed three to win and after a couple of runless deliveries nerves began to jangle but Henry Nicholls hit Tom Curran over square leg for six to wrap up the match with three balls remaining.
Taylor's century was his 19th in one day internationals and his highest in 203 matches.
Taylor, who missed the third one dayer in Wellington because of thigh injury, reinjured himself diving to make his crease during his innings.
Medical staff heavily strapped Taylor's thigh and he continued on, bludgeoning the England bowlers as he limped between the wickets.
Blackcaps Ross Taylor receives treatment for his thigh injury. Photo: Photosport
"It was nice to be there at the end," Taylor said. "There were a lot of little partnerships in there and ... we were able to get there.
"We just had to give ourselves a chance. We knew that we wouldn't win it in the first 10 overs but you can lose it and we just tried to take it as deep as we can."
When Latham departed Colin de Grandhomme arrived at the crease and joined Taylor in the boundary hitting festival making 23 off just eleven balls.
The other contributor to New Zealand's inning was skipper Kane Williamson who made 46 after openers Martin Guptill and Colin Monro were both out for ducks.
After being put into bat by New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson the England top order took to the New Zealand bowlers in the first 35 overs and were on course for a total of 400 at one stage with the tourists 267 for one in the 37th over.
Bairstow (138) and Joe Root (102) put on 190 for the second wicket but when Bairstow departed England then lost six wickets for 21 runs as New Zealand fought their way back into the game.
Ish Sodhi was the most successful of the New Zealand bowlers taking 4-58 off his ten overs while Tim Southee was the most expensive taking 1-87 off his ten.
