Kevin Pietersen made a losing start as England captain as New Zealand triumphed by 51 runs in the final NatWest Series tie at Lord’s.

The Kiwis had comprehensively lost the opening game at Durham but recovered to triumph 3-1 and repeat the scoreline of the winter series with England, who now slide to seventh in the ICC one-day rankings.

Big hitting by Jacob Oram and Scott Styris lifted New Zealand to a challenging 266 for five after being put in by Pietersen.

Then their accurate and nagging attack ensured England never seriously threatened to overhaul their total, despite 69 off 75 balls from Owais Shah. They were dismissed for 215 in 47.5 overs.

New Zealand’s skipper, spinner Daniel Vettori (3 for 32), showed why he is ranked number one bowler in the ICC one-day lists by ripping out the England middle order It enabled New Zealand to gain revenge for the 2-0 defeat in the Test series and the thrashing in the Twenty20 international.

Pietersen had scored a superb century at the Riverside, but significantly England’s star batsman has since failed to make a big contribution.

New Zealand on the other hand demonstrated why they are third in the ICC rankings. Unproven players such as paceman Tim Southee and all-rounder Grant Elliott have stepped up to the mark and made huge contributions.

In contrast England showed once again they have a long way to go before they can be considered a major force in the 50-over version of the game.

Pietersen could be pleased with his contribution in the field as England captain as a temporary replacement for the banned Paul Collingwood. He switched his bowlers around effectively and saw them maintain a disciplined line and length on a bouncy and pacey pitch until the late Oram and Styris onslaught.

But he was at fault in keeping fill-in bowler Owais Shah in the attack for too long when other options were available, and his last over cost 17 runs.

England had made a confident start in pursuit of their 267 target, but once again Ian Bell flattered to deceive after looking well set for a sizeable contribution.

He produced some flowing drives in reaching 27 off 34 balls with five fours before walking across his stumps and being trapped lbw by Mark Gillespie.

Then Southee confirmed the favourable impression he has made in his first limited-over series for his country by removing Alistair Cook and Pietersen in quick succession.

Cook (24) had looked in decent touch before edging Southee through to wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum and he was jubilant after dismissing Pietersen.

The Hampshire player only succeeded in carving the ball into the hands of Oram at backward point.

Bopara raced to 30 off 39 balls but was undone by Vettori’s arm ball and was bowled and then Luke Wright (six) perished in a similar fashion.

Vettori collected his third scalp when the out-of-form Tim Ambrose (2) cut into the hands of point and he scored just ten runs in five knocks.

Graeme Swann (12) fell to a fine legside catch by ’keeper McCullum off Kyle Mills who then had another success when Stuart Broad holed out on the mid-wicket boundary.

Any last hope for England was extinguished when Shah was pouched at long-off to give man of the series Southee his 13th victim in five games.

And the New Zealanders celebrated when James Anderson (2) carved Mark Gillespie to backward point.

Pietersen had been well backed up by his bowlers after putting New Zealand into bat.

Anderson should have broken through when Jamie How on four top-edged a skier towards long leg, but wicket-keeper Ambrose spilled the chance after getting both gloves underneath the ball.

It initially looked as if that miss would prove costly when Broad came into the attack, with How pulling him for six. But it proved his last scoring shot as he carved the next delivery to Bopara at backward point after making 22.

Broad had also undone Ross Taylor (4), who edged a straightforward catch to Ambrose.

McCullum, after making a restrained 23 off 57 balls, was drawn into a false stroke by Anderson and edged to Swann at first slip. Styris and Daniel Flynn carefully added 53 in 13 overs before the latter on 35 went to drive spinner Swann and was bowled.

The pace of the innings started to pick up with the arrival of Oram whose 52 spanned only 40 balls and contained three sixes and two fours.

He dominated a stand off 77 with Styris until the impressive Swann, who finished with two for 33 from his 10 overs, had him caught at long off by Broad.

His dismissal was the signal for Styris to start to open out and he received good support from Grant Elliott as 65 runs were plundered from the last six overs.

Styris reached his 50 with a six over long leg off Anderson and launched Sidebottom for a massive hit over mid-wicket into the top tier of the stand.

He finished unbeaten on 87 from 91 balls with five fours and three sixes.

Lord's (England won toss):

New Zealand

J How c Bopara b Broad 22

B McCullum c Swann b Anderson 23

R Taylor c Ambrose b Broad 4

S Styris not out 87

D Flynn b Swann 35

J Oram c Broad b Swann 52

G Elliott not out 23

Extras: (lb13, w 7) 20

Total (5 wickets, 50 overs) 266

Fall of wickets: 1-39, 2-54, 3-71, 4-124, 5-201

Did not bat: D Vettori, K Mills, T Southee, M Gillespie.

Bowling: Sidebottom 10-0-52-0, Anderson 10-0-46-1, Broad 10-1-50-2, Wright 6-0-36-0, Swann 10-0-33-2, Bopara 1-0-6-0, Shah 3-0-30-0

England

I R Bell lbw b Gillespie 27

A N Cook c McCullum b Southee 24

K P Pietersen c Oram b Southee 6

R S Bopara b Vettori 30

O A Shah c Sub b Southee 69

L J Wright b Vettori 6

T R Ambrose c Sub b Vettori 2

G P Swann c McCullum b Mills 12

S C J Broad c Flynn b Mills 5

R J Sidebottom not out 10

J M Anderson c Oram b Gillespie 2

Extras (b1, lb10, w10, nb1) 22

Total (47.5 overs) 215

Fall of wickets: 1-53, 2-60, 3-86, 4-101, 5-130, 6-138, 7-164, 8-186, 9-209

Bowling: Mills 9-1-55-2, Gillespie 9.5-2-29-2, Oram 6-0-22-0, Southee 9-0-49-3, Vettori 10-1-32-3, Styris 4-0-17-0