Sporting crowd, and flowing liquor

Anticipatory buzz: The Anil Kumble circle outside the ground was the beehive of most of the buzz. It became tough to navigate through the area at noon and by 5pm, Queens Road was partly blocked. It was obvious the numbers would match any one-dayer though it was also evident that there wasn't going to be too much of a partisan element to the cheering.

Twelve years ago few Bangaloreans would have even imagined a day which could rival the excitement that surrounded the India-Pakistan World Cup clash but the response here was threatening to approach it. Not many had their faces painted, fewer carried the tri-colour. Signs showing fours and sixes, though, were generously distributed.

Entry time: It's usually not too much of a hassle entering the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The queues are well set out and very few security men rough you up. Mobile phones aren't a problem and the frisking is usually nothing more than a quick run-through. What all this means is that the smart ones can sneak their cigarettes in.

What the fans got: Vijay Mallya might have been gutted with the show his side put up but the alcohol sales would have brought a big smile. It was difficult to get water but the beer flowed at a McCullum-esque rate. Priced reasonably, they were set out in stalls behind the stands, though it required many to walk some distance before they could get back to their seats. The best part was the clear signboards at every corner. A hot day ensured plenty of sales and also had the spectators heading to the loos - facilities that were occasionally inadequate but largely useable. A scuffle broke out in one of the stands and more of those could see the alcohol sales being more closely monitored.

Atmosphere: Bangaloreans used to the slew of rock concerts would have hoped for a better sound system but the intensity levels matched the big nights at Palace Grounds, where the bands play. Bollywood numbers blared out frequently but the crowd really got going with a few Kannada songs that played later in the day (interestingly coinciding with the home team's dismal show). The quality of fireworks - dazzling the audience for more than five minutes - matched the ones that light up the Sydney skyline on New Year's day and the lighting sat well with the grand scale of the event.

Crowd support: European football teams talk of the distinct edge they get in home games (with the crowd acting as the extra player) but it will take a while for these teams to develop such a following. Only once, when Sunil Joshi came on to bowl, did the crowd actually egg him along fervently on a night when the home side weren't really distinguishable from the visitors.

McCullum's sixes were applauded (much more than they would have been if New Zealand were playing India) and Sourav Ganguly received big cheers after his wickets. So cosmopolitan is Bangalore's crowd that visiting teams are bound to find pockets of support every time and nothing symbolised it more than a group of fans who took their shirts off and swirled it above their heads the moment Ganguly was on strike.

No dull moment: Unlike in a Test match, though, the spectators had plenty of chance to get involved. Every good move by the Bangalore side was followed by the Redskin girls twirling their hips (and pom-poms). It took a while for them to realise when to cheer (the spontaneity came only towards the end) and it was hilarious to see them jiving to Kannada numbers. The crowd, though, swung with them all night. The girls cheering the Kolkata side had much more work on the night (McCullum ensured that with 13 sixes and 10 fours) and some even got the fans to synchronise with their movements.

Score? What score? Somebody needs to ferret out the digital scoreboard that's usually installed at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The manual scoreboard was hardly visible and the giant screen stopped working mid-way through the second innings. This was hardly a match when the scores needed to be closely monitored but come a nail-biter and the crowd may just be a bit confused.