Thanks for the assist: The Afghanistan gamers obtain a standing ovation from the Chepauk crowd.
| Photo Credit: JOTHI RAMALINGAM B
The Chepauk cricket floor in Chennai has witnessed fairly a few iconic video games through the years, from India’s first Test victory in 1952 in opposition to England to the thrilling 1986 tied Test between India and Australia and, subsequently, some of Sachin Tendulkar’s finest Test a whole bunch.
As a lot because the venue is understood for these matches, it additionally grew to become related to having probably the most sporting crowd within the nation, which was finest symbolised when the Pakistan group obtained a standing ovation after beating India in a thrilling Test match in 1999.
That second has develop into an integral half of the stadium’s wealthy historical past, a lot in order that when the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association just lately refurbished the stadium, a mural of the Pakistan group taking a lap of honour was put up on the partitions of the MAC B floor, which homes the nets facility.
As Pakistan ready for its World Cup sport in opposition to Afghanistan, the mural obtained a lot of consideration from the gamers as they walked to the web facility, and there was the assumption that the group may take inspiration from it at a venue the place it has performed properly traditionally.
On Monday, a equally sporting crowd turned up in giant numbers and enthusiastically appreciated good cricket and each groups equally, with each boundary and wicket being greeted with the identical raucousness. However, Pakistan appeared like a pale shadow of the edges that travelled right here previously, whereas the Afghanistan group produced one of its finest performances.
Chasing 283, the Afghan top-order went in regards to the job with scientific effectivity, attacking within the PowerPlay earlier than consolidating by way of the center section and getting the job performed with out letting the prospect of an impending historic win overwhelm them.
After that presentation ceremony, the Afghan group members took a lap of honour across the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, with the greater than 20,000 individuals giving a standing ovation after witnessing historical past being made, giving the victors the adulation they deserved simply as they did 24 years in the past.
