Adelaide Oval packed by India, Pakistan fans

Adelaide, Feb 15:

Thousands of cricket fans from India and Pakistan packed the Adelaide Oval Sunday to witness the high-voltage World Cup encounter between the two South Asian rivals.

The streets were filled with a sea of blue and green, the two teams’ jersey colours, with many fans travelling from abroad for the extravaganza, according abc.net.

A contingent of dedicated Indian team followers called the ‘Swami Army’ entered the ground from the southern gate. Pakistan supporters made their way into the stadium through the eastern gate.

The ground has a capacity of 50,000. It was filled up even before the first ball was bowled. More than 10,000 visitors flew in from India and Pakistan, according to the South Australia state government.

The figure is higher than the number of Indian and Pakistani visitors the state normally draws in one year.

Tickets for the game were sold out within minutes after going on sale.

India won the toss and batted first to post 300/7 in their 50 overs which was inspired by Virat Kohli’s 107.

Indians outnumbered Pakistanis and cheered every single run their team scored, waving the tri-colour. Many fans also had their cheeks painted in their respective national colours.

Pakistan supporters were a bit subdued after captain Misbah-ul-Haq lost the toss. But they sprang into life as Indian wickets fell.

(IANS)