Napier, February 20:

England snatched an unlikely tie against New Zealand after earlier staring down the barrel of defeat in a thrilling — and historic — fourth one-day international here today.

England made 340-6, and when it looked as if New Zealand had paced themselves to pull off a high-scoring win, bolstered by a century by Jamie How, they were denied win in the final ball.

The hero for England was Luke Wright, called on to bowl his first and the last over of the match when all other options were gone and New Zealand requiring just seven to win. With New Zealand needing two to win off the last ball, Wright restricted Daniel Vettori to a single run.

On a day tailor-made for batters, the 340 by each side was the highest-scoring tie in the history of one-dayers and was also the highest ODI score overseas by an England side. In the process they ensured the series stays alive going into the fifth and final match in Christchurch on Saturday.

It was a match which started with an audacious gamble by Vettori, who spurned the chance to bat on a generous wicket. When they set out after their enormous target of 341 to win, the signs were there that Vettori’s hunch was right, as Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum raced to 70 off just 10 overs.

Ryder was first to fall, caught by James Anderson off Stuart Broad. How joined McCullum and they put on 91 for the second wicket before McCullum went for 58. With Ross Taylor for support, How kept advancing on the target and when Taylor was out for 48, New Zealand looked comfortable, needing 87 off the final 12 overs.

But Scott Styris came and went for a quick 20 while Peter Fulton (duck) and Jacob Oram (six) did not stay long, leaving New Zealand on 315-5 with four overs to go. Anderson boosted England’s cause when he conceded just two runs off the 47th over, and New Zealand struggled through to the last six balls when Wright conceded one, two, one and one before How was out and then Vettori could only manage a single off the last ball.

Earlier, England had a lucky escape when McCullum spilled a simple chance, which allowed Alastair Cook and Phil Mustard to carry on for an opening stand of 158.

The breakthrough came when Vettori tossed the ball to part-time bowler Jesse Ryder, who had Mustard caught at long-on by Oram with his fifth ball, and then bowled Cook. Kevin Pietersen raced to 50 off 47 balls and Ian Bell made 43. Collingwood was unbeaten on 54 from 30 deliveries.