The Hindu : Cricket brings Mysore to a grinding halt

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 14, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mysore

Cricket brings Mysore to a grinding halt

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE, MARCH 13. The historic one-day international (ODI) between India and Pakistan at Karachi had Mysoreans glued to the television sets as the city came to a grinding halt on Saturday.

As India notched up a thrilling victory in the last ball of what turned out to be a real cliff-hanger of a match, crackers were burst and people exulted in joy and shook their heads in disbelief that a cricket match could witness such a seesaw battle to the end.

For many people, especially the youth watching the match on the television, the ODI was a historic occasion as the previous contest between the two countries in Pakistan was held almost 15 years ago.

Many students stayed away from classes while attendance in offices was thin. Bars and restaurants were packed to capacity as customers were glued to the television.

Electronic shops selling television had switched on the sets for the benefit of the people. It was a common sight to see a large crowd in front of such shops cheering every time the home side scored.

Business establishments in commercial areas such as Sayyaji Rao Road and Dhanavantri Road, which do good business on Saturdays, thanks to weekend shoppers, wore a deserted look as the cricket fever gripped the city.

Perhaps, cricket took precedence over shopping as a few enterprising businessmen switched on the television sets for the benefit of their customers, who were hard to come by till late in the evening.

As the last Pakistan wicket fell and India emerged triumphant, a few rushed to the 101 Ganapathi Temple at Agrahara to break coconuts and offer prayers while a section of the youth drove wildly through the city exulting in joy.

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