Cricket in Amsterdam: A washout

The inaugural Videocon Cup got off to a flyer as two old enemies, India and Pakistan, clashed in front of a sellout crowd. If only the rest of the tri-series had continued so well.

The inaugural Videocon Cup in Amsterdam got off to a flyer as two old enemies, India and Pakistan, clashed in front of a sellout crowd.

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If only the rest of the tri-series, in which Australia completed the guest-list, had continued so well. But rain spoiled all the fun in a tournament, also marked by poor attendances in rest of the matches.

The rain had relented by the day of the closely fought final — Australia beat Pakistan by 17 runs — which many felt was unfair, as only one match of the tri-series had been completed.

India made a disasterous start to the tournament, collapsing inexplicably from the highs of 60 for one or two to 120-odd in their first match against Pakistan.

The strangest part was that India were right on top twice in the game — at the beginning of either innings — and yet they managed to fritter away the advantage.