TOM Banton and Lewis Gregory featured together for England in the third IT20 match against New Zealand, but the day did not end happily for the tourists as they fell 2-1 behind in the series.

Chasing 181 for victory, England were 139-2 with 31 balls remaining, but they then lost five wickets for 10 runs, and ended up 14 runs short of the hosts' tally in Nelson.

Colin de Grandhomme made 55 in New Zealand's 180-7, with Tom Curran taking 2-29 and debutant Matt Parkinson 1-14 for the tourists.

Somerset all-rounder Gregory ended with 0-19 off two overs, while Banton took the catch to dismiss de Grandhomme.

The reply began well, with Banton – on his full international debut – and Dawid Malan scoring 25 off the first two overs.

Banton ended with 18 from 10 balls, with two fours and a six in an eventful cameo, as he was clean bowled by Blair Tickner.

Malan finished up with 55 and James Vince added 49, but when Eoin Morgan (18) was dismissed at 139-3, it sparked a collapse.

Lockie Ferguson accounted for Sam Curran (2) and Gregory (0) in the 18th over, and Tom Curran's 14no was too little, too late for England.

England T20 captain Eoin Morgan said: "I thought he came out beautifully. He's a free-spirited guy who plays expansive cricket, and we want him to do that.

"He gets out playing one of his strongest shots. We'll encourage him to keep doing that. We don't want him to go away from his natural game."

The fourth fixture of the five-match series is in Napier on Friday (5am UK time).