Speedster Brett Lee made an encouraging return as Andrew Symonds almost achieved a cricketing rarity - a hat-trick of run outs - in Australia's 17-run win over Pakistan in the final of the Videocon Cup in Holland.
Lee's first game back for Australia since being forced out of the tan ankle injury in Sri Lanka in March was a success.
With Pakistan chasing a modest 193 for victory at Amstelveen, Lee came on as a first-change bowler and took a wicket with his fifth ball en route to the promising figures of 1-29 from seven overs.
"He's been telling me for the last few weeks he's feeling really good, really strong and he's pain free which are all good signs for our team," said Australian captain Ricky Ponting.
Pakistan, chasing 193 for victory, was rolled for 175. It was travelling nicely at 5-154 but capitulated after Symonds ran out two players in a row from cover.
Symonds was man-of-the match for a fine all-round display. He made 36 from 40 balls in Australia's total of 7-192 from 50 overs, took 2-25 bowling his off-spin and ran out key Pakistan batsmen Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi when the game still hung in the balance.
"It was an amazing thing," said Symonds of his run-outs before admitting batting had been hard on a pitch and outfield affected by a week of wet weather.
"It was a pitch you didn't have a lot confidence in about how it was going to bounce.
"You had to scrap and if you got the odd bad ball make sure it went to the boundary. We put a score together that was very defendable."
Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer was left to rue the two costly run outs and a golden chance for his side to secure a win over the world Champions ahead of next month's Champions Trophy in England.
"We were on course to win and we cocked it up," said Woolmer.
"The good thing about it was that Pakistan competed right the way through the whole match and that for me was a very big plus."
Looking ahead to the Champions Trophy, Woolmer said of Pakistan: "I feel they are on course. I feel they are doing all the right things at the moment."
One consolation for Pakistan is that, as part of their Champions Trophy preparations, they have a quick chance for revenge when they play Australia at Lord's on Saturday.
"I think Australia have been the benchmark for the last six or seven years," said Woolmer.
"The more you play against them, the more you learn how to play, and the more you can get your team closer to them."
Matthew Hayden made a patient 59 and Darren Lehmann 40 in Australia's innings before the bowlers shared the spoils. Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie took the new ball, taking 1-12 and 1-22 from 7.1 and nine overs respectively.
Brad Hogg (1-43 off seven) and Darren Lehmann (2-36 off ten) chipped in.