Luke Wright had another excellent day but was unable to prevent England from losing the one-day series to New Zealand.

The Sussex all-rounder made 47 off 40 balls with four sixes and two fours in Christchurch but England's total of 242-7 never looked like being enough after Kiwi openers Brendon McCullum (77) and Jesse Ryder put on 103 off just 68 balls.

Wright and Dimitri Mascarenhas had added 65 in the final five overs after seamer Kyle Mills had claimed 4-36.

Skipper Paul Collingwood said: "The target on that wicket was probably 250 and we weren't far off that.

"The boys at the back end really put us into a good position and I think it was a target that was defendable until the two openers came out and pretty much took the game away from us.

New Zealand won by 34 runs under Duckworth Lewis after their run chase was interrupted by rain.

Meanwhile, Sussex's Mike Yardy made 42 as England Lions thrashed Saurashtra Cricket Association by 176 runs in a one-dayer in Mumbai yesterday.