The Blackcaps can depart Bangladesh with their heads held high, finishing their five-match Twenty20 international series with a 27-run victory at Dhaka.
An unbeaten half-century from Tom Latham, and an all-in display from the six-strong bowling attack saw New Zealand bring the series score back to 3-2, having already lost any hope of a victory in Wednesday's six-wicket defeat.
Latham's efforts saw him named as man-of-the-match, as well as share the man-of-the-series award with Bangladesh's Nasum Ahmed.
As a moral victory, the scoreline betters Australia's 4-1 defeat to the same opposition earlier this year.
On a considerably more sporting pitch than what had been seen throughout the first four games of the series, the Blackcaps openers got off to a flier, adding a half-century stand inside the powerplay after captain Tom Latham won the toss and batted first.
In particular, Finn Allen took the attack to Bangladesh hitting four fours and three sixes in his quickfire knock of 41 from 24 balls, as he and Rachin Ravindra (17) added 58 for the first wicket inside the powerplay.
But both openers fell within the space of three balls, as Ravindra fell to a catch at mid-off, while Allen was bowled around his legs.
Regardless, the 58/2 from the Blackcaps was the highest score from the powerplay for either side throughout the series.
Coming in at No.3, a captain's knock from Tom Latham - supported by contributions from Henry Nicholls (20) and Cole McConchie (17 not out) - gave the Blackcaps 161/5 from their 20 overs, the highest team total of the series.
After building into his innings, Latham unleashed a flurry of slog-sweeps in the final stages to score an unbeaten 50 from 37 balls, a knock containing two fours and two sixes.
Latham's knock saw him finish as the series' leading run scorer, with 159 at an average of 53, scoring two half-centuries - the only batsman from either side to pass 50 across the five matches.
In response, Bangladesh's chase was hampered by the loss of the top order, as the hosts crumbled to 46/4 inside the opening 10 overs.
Ajaz Patel impressed again with the wicket of Liton Das (10) while Cole McConchie (1/25) and Rachin Ravindra (1/19) chipped in by removing Soumya Sarkar (4) and Mushfiqur Rahim (3) respectively.
Wellington quick Ben Sears impressed in his second outing as a Blackcap, touching speeds of over 140km/h with the ball, and removing opener Mohammad Naim for his first international wicket to finish with 1/21 from three overs.
But a stand of 63 in 43 balls between captain Mahmudullah (23) and Afif Hossain (49 not out) threatened to see Bangladesh mount an improbable comeback.
A composed over from Scott Kuggeleijn put pay to any notion of a 4-1 series win for Bangladesh though. As his first five balls of the 16th over yielded only three runs, Kuggeleijn then removed Mahmudullah - who hit the ball to Finn Allen on the cover boundary, the only fielder on the off-side.
Patel had his second wicket when he trapped Nurul Hasan LBW for four, seeing him finish as the series' leading wicket taker with 10.
Jacob Duffy clean bowled Shamim Hossain for two, before Kuggeleijn did the same for Taskin Ahmed, out for nine.
The Blackcaps' efforts with the ball ensured that every bowler finished the final T20 with at least one wicket, with Patel (2/21) the best on show.
Those wickets left Bangladesh needing 35 runs from the final over, bowled by Duffy - costing just seven as the hosts finished their chase at 134/8 - giving the Blackcaps a 27-run victory.
The win also serves as valuable momentum for the Blackcaps, as the New Zealand side prepare to depart for Pakistan for three one day internationals and five T20 internationals, beginning on September 17.
