None was closer than the final of the 50-over World Cup against England four years ago, when New Zealand missed out on boundary countback after two Super Overs failed to separate the teams.
The Black Caps accepted the Lord's defeat with admirable good grace, as they had far more emphatic losses to Australia in the 2015 title decider and the 2021 Twenty20 World Cup final.
The New Zealand captain made a quite remarkable recovery to take his spot in the World Cup squad but only returned to batting in a warm-up victory over Pakistan on Friday.
Williamson will not be available for the tournament opener, a rematch of the 2019 final against England in Ahmedabad next Thursday.
The Black Caps have proved highly adept at tournament management in recent World Cups and Stead was unconcerned that they headed to India ranked sixth in the world.
Persons:
Zealand's Kane Williamson, Andrew Couldridge, Kane Williamson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Williamson, Southee, Boult, Gary Stead, Kane, Stead, Michael Bracewell, Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Jimmy Neesham, Nick Mulvenney, Ed Osmond
Organizations:
New, England, New Zealand, Black Caps, Indian Premier League, World, Pakistan, Twenty20, India, Thomson
Locations:
London, Britain, New Zealand, Australia, India, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad