Malinga, Mexican waves, and a mutt
A fan braves the drizzle to watch Nayar clobber Freddie, a dog wander around the outfield, and celebrities hog the big screen on the opening day of the IPL
Samantha Smith
19-Apr-2009
The crowd enjoyed an excellent game of cricket despite the gloomy weather. The food was also never in short supply • Associated Press
Team supported
The Mumbai Indians. They are a very balanced side, with a number of talented performers who have the ability to single-handedly change the face of a match. They're a mix of youth and experience, iconic stars and future greats.
The Mumbai Indians. They are a very balanced side, with a number of talented performers who have the ability to single-handedly change the face of a match. They're a mix of youth and experience, iconic stars and future greats.
Key performer
Lasith Malinga. He was fast, accurate and evidently potent. With match figures of 4-0-15-3, he pegged back Chennai's powerful batting line-up by conceding few runs and taking crucial wickets.
Lasith Malinga. He was fast, accurate and evidently potent. With match figures of 4-0-15-3, he pegged back Chennai's powerful batting line-up by conceding few runs and taking crucial wickets.
One thing I'd have changed about the match
A more exciting final over would have been preferable. The tight overs bowled by Zaheer Khan and Dwayne Bravo toward the end of their spells virtually secured the match, and Chennai were left with a rampant Malinga to contend with and needing to score an improbable 25 runs for victory off the last over. In the end, they didn't really even get close.
A more exciting final over would have been preferable. The tight overs bowled by Zaheer Khan and Dwayne Bravo toward the end of their spells virtually secured the match, and Chennai were left with a rampant Malinga to contend with and needing to score an improbable 25 runs for victory off the last over. In the end, they didn't really even get close.
The face-off I relished
Andrew Flintoff v Sachin Tendulkar is one worth mentioning. Overall, Flintoff kept it tight and it was not the masterly Tendullkar but rather the left-handed Abhishek Nayar who clubbed ol' Freddie for three sixes in a solitary over!
Andrew Flintoff v Sachin Tendulkar is one worth mentioning. Overall, Flintoff kept it tight and it was not the masterly Tendullkar but rather the left-handed Abhishek Nayar who clubbed ol' Freddie for three sixes in a solitary over!
Star-spotting
Shah Rukh Khan and Shilpa Shetty featured regularly on the big screen. And South African television presenter Jeannie D made an appearance.
Shah Rukh Khan and Shilpa Shetty featured regularly on the big screen. And South African television presenter Jeannie D made an appearance.
Wow moment
Cape Town loves its cricket, and this was epitomised by a seemingly never-ending Mexican wave that almost held up play and even had the usually stuffy Western Province Members gleefully throwing up their arms. That and a wandering dog that held up play for more than 10 minutes much to the amusement of the crowd.
Cape Town loves its cricket, and this was epitomised by a seemingly never-ending Mexican wave that almost held up play and even had the usually stuffy Western Province Members gleefully throwing up their arms. That and a wandering dog that held up play for more than 10 minutes much to the amusement of the crowd.
Eats
Food was certainly not in short supply. The vendors sold hot chocolate, ice-cream, cold drinks, doughnuts and chips at fairly reasonable prices, and the outlets provided fish 'n chips, hot dogs, boerewors rolls, calamari and steaming hot chips.
Food was certainly not in short supply. The vendors sold hot chocolate, ice-cream, cold drinks, doughnuts and chips at fairly reasonable prices, and the outlets provided fish 'n chips, hot dogs, boerewors rolls, calamari and steaming hot chips.
Cheerleader factor
Not only did the Mumbai Indians win the match, but their cheerleaders were better, too. Their routines were in sync, they were quick to react, they generated greater energy, and unlike their yellow-clad counterparts, they had sparkling pompoms.
Not only did the Mumbai Indians win the match, but their cheerleaders were better, too. Their routines were in sync, they were quick to react, they generated greater energy, and unlike their yellow-clad counterparts, they had sparkling pompoms.
Music
The music was not great. A couple of fairly recent hits and arbitrary music devoid of lyrics dominated the PA system. The Chennai Super Kings' flamboyant drummer got the crowd warmed up. But not quite the selection of music needed to complement the atmosphere of Twenty20 cricket.
The music was not great. A couple of fairly recent hits and arbitrary music devoid of lyrics dominated the PA system. The Chennai Super Kings' flamboyant drummer got the crowd warmed up. But not quite the selection of music needed to complement the atmosphere of Twenty20 cricket.
Banner of the Day
"Royals, stealing is wrong. The IPL 2 Trophy belongs to King Khan." Cape Town seems to have really taken to the Kolkata Knight Riders - no doubt due to who their owner is.
"Royals, stealing is wrong. The IPL 2 Trophy belongs to King Khan." Cape Town seems to have really taken to the Kolkata Knight Riders - no doubt due to who their owner is.
Marks out of 10
8.
8.
Overall
Apart from the gloomy weather, it was an excellent game of cricket. The atmosphere was great, the crowd came out and the cricket was no doubt entertaining and of a high quality.
Apart from the gloomy weather, it was an excellent game of cricket. The atmosphere was great, the crowd came out and the cricket was no doubt entertaining and of a high quality.
It was an enjoyable and different experience. It was pleasing to see how much a South African city has embraced another country's domestic tournament. It has reinforced the presence of sporting euphoria within our country and, if today exists as an indication of what is to come, the tournament can only get better.
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