England have to chase down 350 if they are to keep alive the one-day international series with New Zealand.
The hosts lost the toss and were put in the field at Trent Bridge, with New Zealand quickly into their stride thanks to openers Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum.
Mark Wood took the first wicket as McCullum (35) edged through to Jos Buttler, and Guptill (53) soon followed off the bowling of Ben Stokes.
That left Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor at the crease, and the pair again put on a three-figure third-wicket partnership after breaking several records in the third ODI in Southampton.
Williamson fell 10 runs short of his 100 by chipping a David Willey delivery to Adil Rashid at mid-on, while Taylor managed 42 before a slower ball from Steven Finn trapped him lbw.
After making a fast start, it appeared that New Zealand would only just get past 300, but a dazzling knock of 44 in just 19 balls from Mitchell Santer, including 28 in one Rashid over, helped the Black Caps surge to 349-7.
