The Black Sticks men slumped to a 3-2 defeat against Malaysia in the second game in the four-test series at the Tauranga Hockey Centre at Blake Park last night.
It leaves the series balanced at one game each with two to play after the Black Sticks won Sunday's first game 4-1.
As they did on Sunday, the Black Sticks started slowly, conceding inside two minutes with Malaysian skipper Razie Rahim converting a penalty corner won after some neat footwork by Firhan Ashari on the left.
Shay Neal and Hugo Inglis shone early for the Black Sticks, but goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex was also called into action several times, with the Malaysians winning two more penalty corners, and from a shot by Azuan Hasan who found himself in space in front of goal.
George Muir and Arun Panchia combined well to create one of the Black Sticks' best equalising chances early in the second quarter as the New Zealanders looked to exert more pressure.