The sounds of leather upon willow are not usually associated with the first week of a European February, but such is the ever expanding nature of the European international season, largely down to the seemingly never satisfied thirst for content that comes from the European Cricket Network. It surely can't be long before we have a 12 month international season in Europe.

This tri-series began on Monday at the Marsa Sports Club in Malta, with Austria and Hungary the other two teams involved.  It was Hungary and Malta who were first up, with Hungary scoring 180-8 from their 20 overs batting first. Rain reduced the Malta innings to 5 overs with a target of 39 set. They managed 30-1 and lost by eight runs.

In the second match the same day Malta batted first against Austria and scored 150-7. An unbeaten 57 from 41 balls by Mark Simpson-Parker helped Austria secure a six wicket win.

In the first match on Tuesday, Hungary batted first against Austria and scored 186-5 thanks to Zeeshan Kukikhel's unbeaten 65 from 47 balls. This total wasn't enough though and Hungary chased it down with two overs to spare to win by six wickets, Bilal Zalmai scoring 67 from 40 balls.

Malta batted first in the second game of the day against Hungary and scored 177-7, Darshit Patankar top scoring with 54 from 36 balls. Sheikh Rasik then smashed an unbeaten 106 from 38 balls to help Hungary complete an eight wicket win with seven overs to spare.

The final day's play today opened with hosts Malta batting first against Austria. Captain Varun Thamotharam top scored with 58 out of the Maltese total of 168-6. Mark Simpson-Parker then scored 63 from only 26 balls to help his team win by six wickets with 5.5 overs to spare.

The net run rate situation heading into this afternoon's final match between Austria and Hungary was such that the game would decide the winners of the tri-series. Put into bat Austria were bowled out for just 98 with Muhammad Saqlain taking 5-32 and Abbas Ghani taking 4-14.

The Hungary squad with their flagThe winning Hungary team (Cricket Hungary)

Hungary nearly made a meal of their chase, losing eight wickets in their pursuit of victory. Muhammad Usman top scored for the Hungarians with 35 to help his team complete a two wicket win with nine balls to spare.