Argentina outfought and outthought France on a traumatic opening night for the host, winning more completely than the 17-12 suggested suggested.
The hosts win a penalty with 18 minutes to go and the score locked at 0-0.
Argentina and Uruguay made the final, which the hosts won 4-1.
A morale-raising interlude came in 1978 with the holding of the football World Cup, which the hosts won.
Russia's Ilya Kutepov runs through Egypt's Marwan Mohsen as the hosts win 3-1 in Saint Petersburg.
Will Spain, the holders, or Brazil, the hosts, win the football World Cup? National elections in Indonesia, India and Brazil (among others) will also feed forecasts.
Tim Murtagh, Alex Cusack and Kevin O'Brien took a brace of wickets each to restrict West Indies to 116 from their 20 overs after the hosts won the toss and elected to bat.
The hosts won what seemed a crucial toss, only for a superb opening spell from James Anderson to leave them three down after nine overs.
The game between Huddersfield Town and struggling Charlton Athletic at the John Smith's Stadium was equally action-packed as the hosts won 5-0.
The USA dominated Europe for four sessions out of five, the conclusion of which was a singles element which the hosts won 7½ to 4½.
