AMSTELVEEN, Aug 23: Rain had the last word in the triangular series match between Australia and India on Monday, the match abandoned as a no-result. A huge downpour at the VRA Ground saw the players leave the field with just two balls of the Australia innings left.

The world champions were on 175 for seven in 31.4 overs after rain had already reduced the game to a 32 overs per side contest and delayed the start by four-and-a-half hours.

It was a game India were especially keen to win after seeing their hopes of reaching Saturday's final severely dented by a 66-run defeat in the tournament opener against Pakistan two days ago.

Both teams received three points for a no-result and that left the make-up of Saturday's final dependent on the outcome of Wednesday's final pool match between Australia and Pakistan.

Michael Clarke's 42 off 28 balls with seven fours was the centrepiece of Australia's total. Opener Matthew Hayden (29) and captain Ricky Ponting (26) were the only other batsmen to get past 20.

Lakshimpathy Balaji, who was the pick of the attack against Pakistan with three for 27, led the bowling again with three for 20. Brad Hogg was 17 not out and Brett Lee unbeaten on one.

It did not take long for India to claim their first wicket after Ponting won the toss and elected to bat. Brad Haddin had replaced Adam Gilchrist as both wicket-keeper and opening batsman after the first choice glove man missed this event, a warm-up for next month's ICC Champions Trophy tournament in England, to stay at home for the impending birth of his second child.

But Haddin managed just five before an uppish drive off left-arm quick Ashish Nehra was well caught by Balaji at mid-off, Australia 23 for one. Nehra, in for the injured Ajit Agarkar (side strain), was the only change to the team beaten by Pakistan.

Haddin's exit brought in Ponting. And it was not long before the Australian captain launched Nehra for a huge six over long-on. But India hit back when left-hander Hayden, who never looked settled on a slow pitch, went for a 49-ball 29 when he whipped seamer Balaji to India captain Saurav Ganguly at short mid-wicket.

And three balls later 69 for two became 70 for three in the 15th over when Balaji had Ponting lbw for 26 on the back leg. Darren Lehmann and Michael Clarke staunched the flow of wickets with a stand of 37. But the sixth-wicket partnership was broken when Lehmann (19) fell to a fine running catch in the deep by Rohan Gavaskar off Kumble.

Clarke defiantly drove paceman Irfan Pathan for an 'inside-out' four over extra-cover and next ball pulled him for another boundary. His innings was ended in spectacular style when he lofted Balaji for what appeared to be a certain six. But Sehwag, leaping just inside the long-on boundary, took a superb right-handed catch above his head before the heavens opened.

SCOREBOARD