Two years later, the inaugural World Cup in England became the first event which brought together more than two teams in the same place for One-Day Internationals. With the Asian countries still finding their feet in the abridged version of the game, New Zealand performed creditably before losing in the semi-finals to the West Indies.

However, 25 years, and another 29 tournaments (defined as consisting of three or more teams) later, New Zealand had still yet to record a victory. Until now.

Thanks largely to the pioneering annual tri-series in Australia, the ambitious and successful venture by Abdul Rahman Bukhatir in Sharjah, and in recent times the increased popularity of the shortened game in Asia in the 1990s, the number of tournaments to be played in has markedly increased. But, despite playing in as many as 15 tournaments consisting of only three teams, New Zealand struggled to even come close to victory in any of them.

Nine times they managed to finish outright last, seven of these in triangular series - three in a row in 1997/98 to complete a run of four straight tournaments finishing behind everyone else.

This time however, within sight of the win, New Zealand held their nerve, guided ably by Chris Cairns and Chris Harris, just when their resolve was coming into question halfway through the epic chase.

The ICC KnockOut triumph sees New Zealand become the ninth Test playing nation to notch up a One-Day International tournament success - only ahead of the newly promoted Bangladesh.

One-Day International tournaments played by New Zealand:

	Season	Tournament	Finished	Teams
1	1975	Prudential World Cup	SF	8
		in England (against Aus, EA, Eng, Ind, Pak, SL, WI)
2	1979	Prudential World Cup	SF	8
		in England (against Aus, Can, Eng, Ind, Pak, SL, WI)
3	1980/81	Benson & Hedges World Series Cup	2nd	3
		in Australia (against Aus, Ind)
4	1982/83	Benson & Hedges World Series Cup	2nd	3
		in Australia (against Aus, Eng)
5	1983	Prudential World Cup	3rd A	8
		in England (against Aus, Eng, Ind, Pak, SL, WI, Zim)
6	1984/85	Benson & Hedges World Championship of Cricket	4th	7
		in Australia (against Aus, Eng, Ind, Pak, SL, WI)
7	1985/86	Benson & Hedges World Series Cup	3rd	3
		in Australia (against Aus, Ind)
8	1985/86	John Player Triangular Tournament *	2nd	3
		in Sri Lanka (against Pak, SL)
9	1985/86	Austral-Asia Cup	SF	5
		in Sharjah (against Aus, Ind, Pak, SL)
10	1987/88	Reliance World Cup	3rd A	8
		in India and Pakistan (against Aus, Eng, Ind, Pak, SL, WI, Zim)
11	1987/88	Benson & Hedges World Series Cup	2nd	3
		in Australia (against Aus, SL)
12	1987/88	Sharjah Cup	2nd	3
		in Sharjah (against Ind, SL)
13	1989/90	Rothmans Cup	2nd	3
		in New Zealand (against Aus, Ind)
14	1989/90	Austral-Asia Cup	SF	6
		in Sharjah (against Aus, Bdesh, Ind, Pak, SL)
15	1990/91	Benson & Hedges World Series	2nd	3
		in Australia (against Aus, Eng)
16	1991/92	Benson & Hedges World Cup	SF	9
		in Australia and New Zealand (against Aus, Eng, Ind, Pak, RSA, SL, WI, Zim)
17	1993/94	Benson & Hedges World Series	3rd	3
		in Australia (against Aus, RSA)
18	1993/94	Pepsi Austral-Asia Cup	SF	6
		in Sharjah (against Aus, Ind, Pak, SL, UAE)
19	1994/95	Wills World Series	3rd	3
		in India (against Ind, WI)
20	1994/95	Mandela Trophy	4th	4
		in South Africa (against Pak, RSA, SL)
21	1994/95	Bank of New Zealand Centenary Series	2nd	4
		in New Zealand (against Aus, Ind, RSA)
22	1995/96	Wills World Cup	QF	12
		in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka (against Aus, Eng, Ind, Kenya, NL, Pak, RSA, SL, UAE, WI, Zim)
23	1996/97	Singer Champions Trophy	2nd	3
		in Sharjah (against Pak, SL)
24	1996/97	Pepsi Independence Cup	4th	4
		in India (against Ind, Pak, SL)
25	1997/98	Carlton & United Series	3rd	3
		in Australia (against Aus, RSA)
26	1997/98	Coca-Cola Cup	3rd	3
		in Sharjah (against Aus, Ind)
27	1997/98	Singer Akai Nidahas Trophy	3rd	3
		in Sri Lanka (against Ind, SL)
28	1998/99	Wills International Cup	QF	9
		in Bangladesh (against Aus, Eng, Ind, Pak, RSA, SL, WI, Zim)
29	1999	ICC World Cup	SF	12
		in England (against Aus, Bdesh, Eng, Ind, Kenya, Pak, RSA, Scot, SL, WI, Zim)
30	2000/01	Godrej Singapore Challenge	3rd	3
		in Singapore (against Pak, RSA)
31	2000/01	ICC KnockOut	1st	11
		in Kenya (against Aus, Bdesh, Eng, Ind, Kenya, Pak, RSA, SL, WI, Zim)

• The John Player Triangular Tournament was played at the same time as the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka. The Asia Cup final between Pakistan and Sri Lanka doubled up as the second match of this tournament. All three teams finished with 4 points and with no final scheduled, Pakistan won on superior average run rate.