LEWIS Gregory claimed a wicket with his first ball in international cricket, but it came in a losing cause as England went down by 21 runs against New Zealand.

The hosts made 176-8 in Wellington and then bowled England out for 155 to level the IT20 series at 1-1.

Somerset all-rounder Gregory did not bat or bowl in the first match of the series (which the tourists won by seven wickets), but made an immediate impact here.

New Zealand had made their way to 96-3 from 10 overs – 41 of those runs coming from Martin Guptill but Gregory clean bowled Colin de Grandhomme (28) with the first ball of his first over.

Gregory finished with 1-10 off two overs, Chris Jordan 3-23 off four and Sam Curran 2-22 off four, but Jimmy Neesham's quick-fire 42 helped his side to a competitive total.

England made a disastrous start with the bat, sliding to 3-2 after eight balls – Jonny Bairstow (0) and James Vince (1) going cheaply.

Dawid Malan contributed 39, Eoin Morgan 32 and Jordan 36 as England hit back, and Gregory hit a run-a-ball 15 before being caught by de Grandhomme off Tim Southee.

But with spinner Mitchell Santner taking 3-25 off four, the visitors finished up 21 runs short, from 19.5 overs.

The third game of the five-match series is in Nelson on Tuesday (1am UK time), with Gregory and Somerset team-mate Tom Banton looking to be involved.