England need to chase a revised target of 192 runs from 26 overs to win after persisting rain delayed the start of hosts' chase in the deciding match of the five-match ODI series against New Zealand at Chester-le-Street on Saturday.
New Zealand posted lowest total of the series as they had set a 284-run target for England, thanks to Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson's second wicket partnership and late flourish by Ben Wheeler.
Put in to bat first, the visitors dealt an early blow in the very first over as captain Brendon McCullum trudged back to the pavilion after being bowled out by Steven Finn for mere six runs.
However, Guptill (67) and Williamson (50) brought stability to their innings as the duo assembled 94 runs for the second wicket before the dismissal of the latter.
Although Ross Taylor (47) and Grant Elliott (35) tried to bring in some momentum to their innings, New Zealand found themselves reeling at 219-7 in the 44th over after both batsmen's respective dismissals.
Mitchell Santer and Luke Ronchi failed to contribute anything substantially as both were dismissed for two runs each.
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Subsequently, Wheeler smacked a quick-fire 39 off 28 balls to help his side post a respectable total.
Ben Stokes was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts as he claimed three wickets, while Adil Rashid, Finn and David Willey took two wickets each.