A win would secure a fourth successive series for New Zealand, but an England juggernaut, in which no batsman scored at less than a run a ball in Nottingham, stands in their way.
However, the difference yesterday was concealed in England's bowling figures as much as the brazen hitting of century-makers Eoin Morgan and Joe Root in their 198-run record partnership for any wicket against New Zealand.
Mark Wood's figures of one for 49 and Steven Finn's one for 51 would once have been considered par, perhaps bordering on expensive in an ODI. In the fourth match those performances were the cricketing equivalent of sluicing out 24-carat gold nuggets.
New Zealand's assault suffered a hiccup from overs 35-39 in the batting powerplay. Ross Taylor was out on the third ball for 42 off 55 balls at 217 for two, leaving Finn and Wood to restrict Grant Elliott and Kane Williamson to 23 runs across the five overs, including 20 dot balls.
"With 350 for England to chase, I thought we had a good chance," Elliott said. "Finn and Wood bowled well but we knew we could score runs in the final 10 overs.
"I'm gutted I didn't get Kane on strike as much as I should have, but tried to make up for that with Mitchell Santner, who batted beautifully."
Santner (44 from 19) and Elliott (55 not out from 52) put on 71 for the sixth-wicket from 30 balls, but the English pace pair had created enough earlier hesitancy.
Morgan pointed to a pivotal chat at the second drinks break immediately before the powerplay.
"We said if we could chase something in the region of 340 that would be okay. It won't be like this every game, or every series, but we have to be good enough to execute and perform that way.
"All our [team] chats have been about forgetting the scoreboard. At the start of the series, I said the selection reflected the way we wanted to play.
"We've never played in this fashion before."
That has sent a shudder through the New Zealand bowling ethos. With minimal swing, turn or access to economy rate maestro Daniel Vettori, the visitors look vulnerable.
Only one New Zealand bowler has conceded less runs per over than at the World Cup. That is Mitchell McClenaghan (8.14 runs per over versus 8.50) but he has struggled to find rhythm this series.
Injured pace talisman Trent Boult is the only visitor to concede less than a run a ball compared with Finn and Wood for England.
New Zealand's aggressive style has helped rejuvenate England's performances but there is now a threat that mimicry could extend to a series triumph.
In essence, the hosts never looked like losing yesterday, even after conceding 349 for seven.
"Wickets have been tough to come by throughout the series," Elliott said. "But that Morgan-Root partnership took the game away. As a bowling unit we struggled to find the right lengths; it might have skidded on a touch better in the second innings, but they were class innings. There weren't too many opportunities and the catching was poor from both teams."
Elliott said personnel changes have tipped the form scale since New Zealand's World Cup victory.
"They've put more aggressive players in, so I'm not surprised," Elliott said. "We don't have Dan Vettori, Corey Anderson and now Trent Boult, so we're trying to find new combinations but it's a great opportunity for guys light on experience to step up."
#Ford, the driving force behind the Black Caps
- By Andrew Alderson of the New Zealand Herald
