Verdict

Andrew Miller's Roving Reporter

Ashley Giles and Gareth Batty answered the critics with a fine containing bowling performance on the third day at Galle, but Sri Lanka were still 195 ahead by the close

The score would tell you otherwise, but Sourav Ganguly's decision at the toss was the right one

The score would tell you otherwise, but Sourav Ganguly's decision at the toss was the right one

Andrew Miller on the stifling heat at Galle

Muttiah Muralitharan has been a muted presence on this tour

Andrew Miller checks out the famous Galle fort, which overlooks the cricket ground

England have not had much reason to be grateful for rain this winter

Sanath Jayasuriya falls to Ashley Giles for a watchful 48 © Getty Images 2003

For one reason or another, the English have long been accused of being bad losers

This match typified India over the last couple of years: substantial passages of brilliance, interspersed by outbreaks of mediocrity

By 4pm Indian time, New Zealand's sports fans were readying themselves to pick up the pieces

India's batsmen tilted bravely at windmills in the best traditions of Don Quixote, but ultimately, they were undone by a magnificent spell of bowling from one of Australia's forgotten men, and the ineptitude of their own bowlers earlier in the day

It wasn't quite a contest, and neither was it a write-off - but it was still a seven-wicket defeat, and for the third match running

Another day, another defeat for Bangladesh, whose performances have completely run out of steam after the comparative heroics of the Test series

Even before the tournament, New Zealand's battingwould have been ranked third of the three at the TVSCup, but when the first two positions are occupied byAustralia and India - in whichever order - that is nocriticism

Thank God for Freddie Flintoff

In a way, the hysteria that followed the NatWest triumph, and the run to the World Cup final, symbolised everything that is rotten about Indian cricket, primarily our easily satiated appetite

Australia's batting depth, and New Zealand's profligate attitude to catching, ultimately decided an engrossing game

In the end, the better team won