England captain Paul Collingwood urged his side to be more ruthless after slumping to a 22-run defeat against New Zealand

Having restricted the tourists to a modest 182 at Bristol, England were confident of taking a 2-0 lead in the series but slumped to 160 all out with 29-year-old seamer Kyle Mills claiming four wickets for 38 runs.

It leaves the series all square as both teams head off to London next week for the remaining two matches, but Collingwood will reflect on an opportunity missed.

"We were very happy restricting them to 182, the wicket was pretty good and it was coming onto the bat - it certainly wasn't a wicket you couldn't bat on," said Collingwood.

"We're very disappointed we didn't take an opportunity here. We had the opportunity to be pretty ruthless and go 2-0 up and we kept losing wickets."

England restricted New Zealand to 49 for five but a determined 56 from all-rounder Grant Elliott and a hard-hitting 47 off 40 balls from man-of-the-match Mills enabled the tourists add 50 in the last five overs.

In reply England slumped to 64 for six but looked on course to snatch victory with Collingwood and Graeme Swann forging a 65-run stand but lost their last three wickets for eight runs in four overs to seal New Zealand's triumph.

Collingwood continued: "We did so well with the ball early on, taking early wickets to put them under pressure and they got away from us a little bit towards the end of their innings.

"Kyle Mills played really well and struck the ball well but you can't get away from the fact we were delighted with them getting 182 on that wicket."

But Collingwood insisted: "It shouldn't be hard to get the momentum back because I think the boys realise today was just a blip.

"We played some great cricket recently in the one-day form of the game and today was disappointing because we could have been really ruthless and nailed it but we didn't take that opportunity and that's something we're going to have to learn as a unit."

New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori saluted his side's comeback from 49 for five and then 75 for six to level the series ahead of the final two games at The Oval and Lord's.

He said: "Our performance was one of our better ones. It is the sort of victory you remember, defending 180. It was a really good win.

"It has been a tough tour and this gives us a chance to win the series. If we had lost here and been 2-0 down, it would have been tough to get everyone up for the last two games in London.

"I'm really happy. We stole a victory from 79 for six. To defend a total of 180, is one of those games you really remember. It keeps us in the series.

"It is a really good feeling in the dressing room.

"Having your backs against the wall has been a trait of New Zealand cricket teams for a long, long time. To deliver today, particularly with some young guys doing so well, is amazing.

"Kyle Mills had a great all-round game, Tim Southee's spell was superb and Grant Elliott has just been amazing in his first two games."