Blackcaps coach Gary Stead said the Cricket World Cup final against England was a day of emotion, as he spoke to The AM Show about the "gutting loss".
After losing in the World Cup final four years ago to Australia in Melbourne, captain Kane Williamson's side were determined to come out on top and remove the underdog tag, which has long been associated with his team.
But on a green pitch, lots of marginal calls went the hosts' way - especially in the final over - and ultimately England proved too strong in front of a vocal crowd.
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Stead said his side could be "enormously proud", despite the loss.
"I think today showed we deserved to be in the final," he told The AM Show.
"It was a very, very fine margin throughout the whole day. We're obviously gutted."
Stead praised captain Williamson, who was named Player of the Tournament after the final.
"He's a tough guy - he played fantastically well throughout the whole tournament."
Stead told The AM Show his team showed fighting spirit.
"That's something I think we should all be really proud of."
Former Blackcap Chris Harris agreed it was "absolutely gutting", but added, "If you're going to lose in the final, what a way to do it".
"To tie the original game and the 'super over', the guys and everyone in that team is going to be absolutely gutted, but they've got to know that they did themselves proud."
Former White Ferns captain Maia Lewis said it could have gone either way.
"It's huge for the profile of cricket," she told The AM Show. "It will help a big shift for young people to want to come and play the game.
"People would probably want to come and see the Blackcaps a lot more now."
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