BY PARITOSH PRAMANIK, ANUPAM SONI, RAHUL DIXIT
ALL eager to soak up the atmosphere that a One-Day International brings with it, cricket fans in the city did not miss even a single opportunity on Wednesday. After all they were witnessing a live game after over two years. The last ODI was played in March 2011 when India lost to South Africa in a World Cup game.
Charged-up fans were entertained by some big hitters from both sides during the run riot. And they entertained themselves too in the stands. All the fun associated with a One-Dayer was back at Jamtha. There was noise, there were slogans, there were screams and there were those Mexican waves. Even as the Aussies plundered the Indian bowlers, the fans were indulged in their own match, coming up with new slogans and tricks, to keep the Indian team going.
When the Indians began to return the compliment it was mayhem. Over 43,000 cheered on the Men in Blue bringing the place alive.
FALSE ALARMS
There were some false alarms, too, when the crowd used all their high-fives twice on the fall of Aussie wicket but later realised it was a no-ball. The decibel level touched the roof when Shane Watson was caught by Rohit Sharma off Ravindra Jadeja. However, a hush followed when the umpire called back the batsman ruling it a no-ball after checking with the third umpire. The free-hit that followed had George Bailey caught. It only evoked a sarcastic laugh.
Towards the end of the innings Adam Voges holed out off the same bowler but the celebrations were cut short as Jadeja was the culprit of bowling a no-ball yet again.
ONE-DAY OF
QUICK BUCKS
It was also the day for making a few quick bucks for the petty vendors. By selling Indian flags at pretty high rates they, too, went home a happy lot. They were not only near the stadium but were seen in the city too. There were many with flags and paints in their hands around 6 kms away from Jamtha selling the tricolor to Indian supporters at a price of Rs 200 and above. The rates went northwards and as one neared the stadium. Interestingly, fans were ready to shell out money and there was hardly any bargaining.
‘JAM’ SESSION
Vehicles moved at snail’s pace on the Nagpur-Hyderabad Highway, the main approach road to Jamtha Stadium. Two-wheelers and four-wheelers made a bee-line that stretched to as long as four kms. Those failing to reach the stadium well ahead of time failed to witness the fine century made by Shane Watson. But with India batting second, footfalls continued till the 40th overs of the Australian innings.
COPPING IT UP!
The security was too tight at the Jamtha stadium and none of the spectators was allowed to carry any ‘banned’ substance. But lack of proper briefing to the policemen made it difficult for the official scorers as well as a few journalists.
Cops deployed at the gate did not allow scorers to take laptop, calculators and other equipment inside the stadium. They had only one answer: “We were ordered not to allow anybody to carry anything with them.”
Similarly, scribes too were asked not to take laptops inside. After several minutes of heated arguments, the cops relented and scorers and journos were permitted to carry their ‘valuables’. Hope they are properly briefed next time.
CRICKET SCORES A GOAL
The cricket fever was so high in the city that it also had an impact on other sports. The local football matches for the day had to be cancelled in view of the One-Dayer. Giving in to the love for cricket the organizers decided to put off the game for Wednesday in an afternoon decision.
ISHANT STILL
THE VILLIAN
People are just in no mood to forgive Ishant Sharma for his infamous 30-run over in Mohali that sealed India’s fate. The cyberspace was agog with jokes on the lanky pacer for days together. He was not picked in the playing XI for the next game at Ranchi and not even here. But people still had taunts for him whenever he was out for practice.
However, things took a bad turn when a spectator hurled a pouch at Ishant during the innings break when the bowler was practicing along with fellow pacer Jaydev Unadkat near one stand. Nothing serious was reported though.
Ready for a swap!
Bored in the glass confines, a few cricket enthusiasts, who purchased higher denomination tickets, were ready to swap their costly tickets for the stands. “Mahual ka kuch maza hi nahi aa raha,” they said. Whether they succeeded in their attempt could not be ascertained.
Jam helps cops relax
When Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled first over of the match, Jamtha was not house full. Spectators were queued up for about two kilometres outside the stadium. With seats empty, police personnel, security men and even MIDC Fire Service team members, who made their debut at Jamtha, occupied the chairs and relaxed.
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Virat, the
next big thing
Virat Kohli seems to be the most popular Indian cricketer theses days. It was confirmed at Jamtha. The young player, a certain future Indian skipper, attracted maximum crowd attention. There would be chants of Veeeeeeeeeeeerat.... Veeeeeeeeeeeerat....whenever he fielded a ball or came to man the boundary ropes. The Delhi player responded to the chants by either waving, clapping or a namaste.
His respect for good performance too was on the view. Virat kept clapping till Bailey disappeared in the pavilion after getting out at 156 even as Nagpurians gave the batsman a standing ovation.
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