New Zealand [Images] and England [Images] played out a thrilling draw in their fourth one-day international at Napier on Wednesday.

Both teams finished on 340 runs, leaving New Zealand with a 2-1 lead in the series with one match to play.

- Scorecard

England batted first and made 340-6, with four players scoring half-centuries.

New Zealand lost seven wickets in their run chase, with Jamie How top-scoring with a superb 139 and Brendon McCullum making 58.

How was run-out off the penultimate ball of the match, leaving the Kiwis requiring two runs off the final ball to win. However, they could only manage a single.

Phil Mustard (83) and Alastair Cook [Images] (69) had given England the perfect start by putting on 158 for the opening wicket before they were dismissed in successive balls by Jesse Ryder.

Kevin Pietersen [Images] and England captain Paul Collingwood [Images] continued the attack. Pietersen's 50 came off 47 balls and Collingwood smashed six sixes to finish unbeaten on 54 from 30 deliveries.

New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori [Images], who had sent England into bat after winning the toss, captured two wickets but it was a day when bowlers were very expensive.

New Zealand are one of only two teams to have chased more than 240 runs to win a one-day international, achieving that feat against Australia a year ago.

How struck 10 fours and three sixes in his 139, the highest score by a New Zealander in a one-day international against England, while McCullum smacked six fours and a six to lay the foundations for an epic encounter.

The final match of the series will be played in Christchurch on Saturday.