Scott Styris got his revenge on Captain Flash at Lord's on Saturday. Two weeks after being made to look foolish by Kevin Pietersen, who twice hit Styris's bowling for six left-handed, the New Zealander's batting sealed a 3-1 NatWest Series win for his team.

With ten overs to go New Zealand were 170 for four and Styris, who had scored 38 in 26 overs, had just been given a reprieve by Richard Kettleborough, the television umpire, who adjudged that Styris's toe had been a fraction behind the line when Tim Ambrose tried to stump him. Styris, who had been dropped on 14, took full advantage. With Jacob Oram making 52, New Zealand put on 96 in the final ten overs and Styris, who made 40 off his last 17 balls, was on 87 at the close.

It was a frustrating end to Pietersen's first innings as England captain, which had begun brightly and, after his switch-hit sixes, he revealed another unorthodox stroke: the forehand pat to the bottom.

Captains motivate in different ways. Some clap hands, some put arms round shoulders. Pietersen likes to gee his men up with a hand on their posterior. The first sign came seven overs in. New Zealand were 23 for nought and Jamie How made a mess of an attempted hook off James Anderson. The ball soared high, Ambrose ran back for the catch - and fluffed it.

How would Pietersen react? First he ran in from mid-off to pat Anderson on the behind, then he came across to Ambrose and gave him a fondle. Finally, Ian Bell also got his bottom tapped simply because he was nearby. It was not a chiding, more a “chin up lads and back at 'em” - probably a South African thing, although it is hard to recall Tony Greig ever touching Geoff Boycott's rump.

As a motivation, it seemed to work. Pietersen's England looked lively in the field, scampering into their positions after each over. But having started brightly, England had no answer to New Zealand's assault.

England's batsmen were more culpable. After Ian Bell and Alastair Cook put on 53 in 11 overs, the rest failed miserably with the exception of Owais Shah, who made 69 off 75 balls.

“Our batting was inconsistent all series,” Pietersen said. “When you get into the 20s, 30s, 40s, the key is to go on. The onus is on the individual to try and win the game and be a hero.” It is England's lack of heroes that remains the biggest problem.