By Paritosh Pramanik
THE Vidarbha Cricket Association’s Jamtha Stadium wore India Blue colours. Thousands of cricket aficionados thronged the venue and made their Wednesday a memorable one. It was a mid-week mania with spectators enjoying every bit of it as Indian batters, led by Abhishek Sharma, hit boundaries and sixes during the first T20 International. The favourable result made it a memorable evening for the sporting entertainment-starved Nagpurians. Cricket is the biggest international sporting event that takes place in this part of central India and citizens wanted to soak in the moment.
Abhishek Sharma made sure that fans enjoyed their evening to the hilt hitting a 35-ball 84 with eight marauding sixes and five boundaries. His sixes lit up the stadium as New Zealand bowlers failed to find solution to stop him. After his departure, Rinku Singh entertained the crowd late in the innings hitting three sixes and as many fours. With bowlers striking at regular intervals, New Zealand could not make a match of it. They succumbed.
The fans made a beeline at the venue situated in the outskirts of the city more than four hours before the start of the play. They all wanted to occupy their ‘coveted seats’ well in advance. They wanted to enjoy the ‘festival’ from ball one. By the time toss took place, the stands were almost packed to the capacity.
With Police on their toes to avoid any untoward incident, fans also made it sure that they remained disciplined.
The arrangements at the venue were perfect with volunteers guiding fans to their designated seats through turn-styles. Fans went berserk as the game started and sixes landed into the stands. They chanted names of Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav. But the biggest was reserved for Hardik Pandya. Haaardik…Haardik… chanted the fans, bringing back the memories of Saachiiin….Saaachiiin…
RECORD MATCHES: People often say that Vidarbha Cricket Association did not get matches as compared to other venues of the country. But the match between India and New Zealand was the 14th T20 International at Jamtha Stadium, highest than any other venue.
Only VCA’s Jamtha Stadium has hosted more T20Is than any other centre in the country. One of the oldest centres of the country Eden Gardens has hosted 12 T20Is followed by Dharamsala (11), Bengaluru (10) and Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium (9). VCA authorities did a perfect job in conducting a hassle-free match as spectators returned home, albeit traffic jam, with happy memories.
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