Jonny Bairstow bludgeoned a brilliant 83 not out in Durham to lead England to a three-wicket win over New Zealand on the Duckworth-Lewis method on Saturday, earning a 3-2 victory in the five-match series of one-dayers.
In a rain-affected final game, Bairstow's classy knock helped England chase down a revised total of 192 from 26 overs with six balls to spare.
World Cup runners-up New Zealand hit 283 for nine off 50 overs and looked to be heading for a comfortable victory after taking several early wickets.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Bairstow, replacing the injured Jos Buttler, then produced an innings worthy of a thrilling series that yielded more than 3,000 runs for the first time in a five-match ODI encounter.
"It's been fantastic to come back in. The guys have put in some great performances in this series ... to top it off is very special," he said.
England, who won the toss and opted to bowl, broke through in the first over when New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum (6) played on to a delivery from Steven Finn.
Martin Guptill (67) and Kane Williamson (50) then shared a stand of 94 before Ben Stokes dismissed the pair and the Kiwis were reduced to 155 for four when leg-spinner Adil Rashid bowled Mitchell Santner (2).
Grant Elliott was on 35 when he was stumped and the tourists looked to be in trouble when left-arm seamer David Willey removed Ross Taylor (47) and Luke Ronchi (2).
New Zealand finished with a flourish when Ben Wheeler blasted a quickfire undefeated 39 that included 16 runs off the last three balls of the innings.
After a rain delay England's reply got off to a dismal start with spinner Santner removing Alex Hales (1), Joe Root (4) and Eoin Morgan (0) to reduce the hosts to 20 for three.
Stokes (17) quickly came and went and New Zealand were in complete control when opener Jason Roy was dismissed for 12 to leave his team 45 for five.
An unflustered Bairstow, however, turned the game around with his 60-ball innings.
"Credit to England they held their nerve under pressure," said McCullum. "They had the series on the line but managed to stay true to their attacking philosophies.
"It's been a tremendous series."
England and New Zealand will now contest a one-off Twenty20 match in Manchester on Tuesday.
Scorecard
New Zealand Innings
M. Guptill c Bairstow b Stokes 67
B. McCullum b Finn 6
K. Williamson b Stokes 50
R. Taylor c Bairstow b Willey 47
M. Santner b Rashid 2
G. Elliott st Bairstow b Rashid 35
L. Ronchi c Morgan b Willey 2
B. Wheeler not out 39
T. Southee b Stokes 18
M. Henry c Stokes b Finn 12
A. Mathieson not out 0
Extras (lb-3 w-2) 5
Total (for 9 wickets, 50 overs) 283
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-101, 3-150, 4-155, 5-210, 6-212, 7-219, 8-244, 9-267
Bowling
S. Finn 10 - 0 - 73 - 2(w-2)
D. Willey 10 - 0 - 50 - 2
M. Wood 10 - 0 - 60 - 0
B. Stokes 10 - 0 - 52 - 3
A. Rashid 10 - 0 - 45 - 2
England Innings (D/L Target: 192 off )
J. Roy c Guptill b Mathieson 12
A. Hales c Williamson b Santner 1
J. Root st Ronchi b Santner 4
E. Morgan c Guptill b Santner 0
B. Stokes c B. McCullum b Wheeler 17
J. Bairstow not out 83
S. Billings c Taylor b Henry 41
D. Willey c Santner b Wheeler 7
A. Rashid not out 12
Extras (b-1 lb-6 w-8) 15
Total (for 7 wickets, 25 overs) 192
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-20, 3-20, 4-40, 5-45, 6-125, 7-138
Bowling
T. Southee 4 - 0 - 28 - 0(w-3)
M. Santner 6 - 0 - 31 - 3
B. Wheeler 5 - 0 - 33 - 2
A. Mathieson 4 - 0 - 40 - 1(w-1)
M. Henry 5 - 0 - 37 - 1(w-3)
G. Elliott 1 - 0 - 16 - 0(w-1)
