Kane Williamson bemoans New Zealand's lack of fortune again: "It wasn't quite meant to be"

NICK HOWSON AT LORD'S: The Kiwi skipper lamented the failure to get to the second new ball on the fourth morning after going down by five wickets in the first Test

For a batter considered one of the best across the three formats, there is also a certain symmetry to Kane Williamson's considered thoughts after defeats to England regardless of the manner, stage or version of the sport.

The first Test was his 17th occasion leading against the 50-over world champions and the eighth time he's been left empty-handed.

As with his first, a seven-wicket loss in the T20 World Cup semi-final in 2016, the worst, the tied World Cup final determined by boundary countback and the latest, a five-wicket reverse at Lord's, the response has been startlingly similar.

"It wasn't quite meant to be," Williamson told BBC Sport during the post-match presentation, the same words he uttered in Delhi and then magnanimously three years at this same venue.

It is a reflection of the man and the leader that he doesn't launch into an immediate, emotional tirade blaming others. For one thing, it is not in his make-up to do so. But because he respects his teammates and opponents too much to make the moment all about himself, diminish a fine victory or air grievances in public.

"The game ebbed and flowed the whole time," he added at the post-match presentation. "Both teams came out and fought hard.

"Today we came here with high hopes, and we thought there might be some assistance from the overheads, but it wasn’t to be. 

"Take nothing away from the quality of the English performance, both teams stayed in the fight, but they came away with the rewards.

^{Overhead conditions and a new ball due meant New Zealand have plenty to be encouraged by on day four (Adrien Dennis/AFP/Getty Images)}

"It’s about moving on quickly and taking the learnings from this, then moving onto the next match.

"It took an incredible innings from an amazing player, in Joe (Root), to get them across the line."

Though there is no denying the significance of Root's knock, his first fourth-innings Test century in England's second-highest chase at Lord's, things within the tourists' control also went against them, not least a period of 8.1 overs when they lost six wickets for 34 on the third morning.

Key on day four was always going to be about how many England were adrift when the second new ball arrived. As it happened, it was the Black Caps who were still seven deliveries adrift of the 80 overs required by the time Root plundered the winning runs.

"We had some opportunities there and it wasn't quite meant to be," Williamson told the BBC.

"The harder ball reacts a bit quicker and as it gets softer three is a different plan of attack and it is a patience game. 

"We weren't able to get that breakthrough which was frustrating but all in all it was a very good game of cricket. Just a shame for us that we weren't on the right side of the result."