By Fakir Balaji, IANS,
Bangalore: Australian Shaun Tait, who bowled at an awesome 146-148kmph speed, was taunted by about 1,000 fans in the stadium after Canadian top-order batsman Zubin Surkari was at the receving end of the speedster’s scorching pace during a World Cup match here Wednesday and even fell on the crease when hit by a full-toss.
Surkari stood solid at one end, scoring 34 off 69 balls.
In the 31st over, Tait, after sending down some short delivery in the previous overs, bowled a yorker, but managed a full toss in his next attempt.
It was the very first over after the drinks break. Surkari fell flat on the dry pitch tackling the ball and also survived a leg before wicket (LBW) appeal. He had a body blow when the third ball hit him hard on the ‘box’ though the well protected guard.
The fans immediately rooted for the Canadian batsman, who had played agreesively against the Australian pacers, and picked on Tait as their target. They shouted at the top of their voices whenever Tait bowled.
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Tepid end to exciting league matches
With the last league match between minnows Canada and fancied Australia folding up on a tepid note late Wednesday, the curtains came down on an exciting three-week World Cup frenzy in this tech hub that began Feb 27.
The city was to originally stage three low-profile games – and one of co-hosts India versus Ireland March 6.
The venue, however, was fortunate to host another match of home team against England which was shifted out of Eden Gardens. And it turned out to be a thrilling match.
The India-England match Feb 24 ended in a high-scoring tie. Ireland then caused a sensational upset over England.
But there were conspicuous absence of die-hard fans for the England-Ireland Group B fixture and the twin Group A fixtures figuring defending champions Australia.
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Harried cops breathe easy with fans and traffic blues away
It was business as usual in downtown on a busy Wednesday and the traffic around the Chinnaswamy Stadium in the heart of this garden city sailed smoothly despite a World Cup league match in which the mighty Australians were playing.
As frenzied fans kept away from a lop-sided match, about 500 traffic cops on 10-hour duty 2 km around the stadium had an easy time with no snarls, cases of road-rage or breakdowns. Many of them were seen idling in chairs, playing cards in police vans or dozing off.