Jimmy Anderson celebrated becoming England's all-time leading wicket taker by extending his record with a five-wicket haul that helped the visitors ease to an eight-wicket victory over New Zealand in Napier.

The Lancashire fast bowler, who surpassed Ian Botham's record wicket haul of 528 in all formats of the game in the first ODI on Sunday, was in sublime form as he as he returned figures of 5-33 to help England level the series.

James Anderson
Jimmy Anderson was the pick of the England bowlers as he returned figures of 5-33 in Napier. [Reuters]

Having bowled out New Zealand for 269, England produced a near perfect batting display as Jonathan Trott and Joe Root both hit unbeaten half centuries to see the Alastair Cook's side home with more than two overs to spare.

"The way we bowled up front and the way we pegged back New Zealand was outstanding. Steven Finn bowled off his shorter run-up and seemed to generate even more pace and he said he was more comfortable with it," said Cook.

"We knew if we kept our heads batting, and kept wickets in hand, it would be a relatively easy chase. Joe Root has a lot of talent and if he keeps his feet on the ground he has a great future."

The England victory was set up by the quick bowlers who claimed all ten wickets as Ross Taylor and Brendan McCullum were the only two New Zealand batsman to get to grips with the seam attack.

Taylor and McCullum were the only batsmen that looked comfortable as between them they hit 18 fours and five sixes.

McCullum's 74 came from just 36 balls as he attempted to help his side post a competitive total but when he fell to Stuart Broad the momentum was lost.

Taylor was able to complete his century before Anderson had him caught behind by Jos Buttler but there was little else of note from the Kiwi batting line up except a 33 from Kane Williamson who was clean bowled by Chris Woakes.

The Warwickshire fast bowler finished with figures of 3-68 and was simply too much to handle for the lower order batsmen as he claimed the wickets of Tim Southee and James Franklin.

England got off to the perfect start as Cook and Ian Bell [44] put on 89 for the first wicket before the Warwickshire batsman was caught by Hamish Rutherford off the bowling of Williamson.

Cook eventually fell for 78 when he was caught and bowled by Southee but Trott [65] and Root [79] rarely looked troubled as they comfortably guided England home to level the series.

"We were probably 20 runs under par - 270 was a defendable total but only if we took wickets up front. England's bowlers put us under pressure early on, and James Anderson in particular was outstanding and they batted brilliantly," said McCullum.

"I'm really pleased for Ross Taylor, to bounce back and score 100 was a significant stride forward for him. It's a bizarre tour so far - you win one, you lose one, so the way it's going we should end up winning the series in Auckland."

The final ODI will take place in Auckland on Sunday as England look to claim another victory after winning the Twenty20 series 2-1 earlier this month.