The Blackcaps have fallen to a 13-run defeat to England at Abu Dhabi in their third and final warm-up game for the Twenty20 World Cup.
Set a target of 164 for victory, the New Zealanders couldn't capitalise on Martin Guptill's blazing 41 runs from just 20 balls to open the innings, collapsing from a strong position at 81/3 and losing five wickets for just 16 runs, as their chase hit the skids.
A late stand from Ish Sodhi (25) and Todd Astle (18) gave the Blackcaps a glimmer of hope, pulling within 14 runs of victory with five balls to go, until Astle departed hit wicket to end the innings at 150 and hand England the win.
The defeat comes two days after their thrilling two-wicket loss to Australia in their second warm-up game for the tournament, after edging the Netherlands by six runs on Sunday.
Devon Conway (20) and Tim Southee (10) were the only other Blackcaps batsmen to reach double figures.
Jos Buttler led the English batting effort with 73 from 51 balls, after Southee had skittled Jason Roy's stumps with the very first delivery of the innings.
Sodhi was the pick of the Blackcaps bowlers, claiming three wickets for 26 runs in his allotted four overs. Lockie Ferguson and Glenn Phillips also picked up a wicket apiece.
Trent Boult and James Neesham were left out of the Blackcaps starting XI, while Kane Williamson fielded, but did not bat.
The Blackcaps now have a week to prepare for their opening match of the tournament against Pakistan in Sharjah on October 27.
England 163/6 (Jos Buttler 73 off 51, Jonny Bairstow 30 off 31; Ish Sodhi 3/26) Blackcaps 150 all out (Martin Guptill 41 off 20; Mark Wood 4/23, Adil Rashid 3/18)
Join us from 3am October 27 for live updates of Blackcaps v Pakistan in their T20 World Cup opener
