McCullum inspires New Zealand as England fall short in record Twenty20 run chase

England fell to a 55-run defeat in pursuit of New Zealand's 192-6 as the hosts leveled their Twenty20 series in Hamilton.

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum.

A captain's performance by Brendon McCullum secured a series-levelling win for New Zealand over England after setting the visitors a record Twenty20 run chase in Hamilton.

McCullum (74) hit five sixes and six fours to help New Zealand set England 192 for six - 11 more runs than their best previous chase, against India in Mumbai less than two months ago.

After Mitchell McClenaghan then took two wickets in two balls to leave England nine for two in the second over, only Jos Buttler (54) spared some of the tourists' blushes by carrying them past both their record low score and worst defeat in this format.

McCullum reached his 50 from 32 balls but took even more severe toll of England in the final two overs of the innings as Stuart Broad conceded 22 in his and then Jade Dernbach 16 in the 20th.

Buttler hit nine fours and a six in his 28-ball half-century, but it was a lone hand from England's number six and could salvage a total of only 137 all out.

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