During the inauguration of the 2023 ODI World Cup at the Narendra Modi stadium on October 5, an unexpected and rather unpleasant spectacle caught the attention of cricket enthusiasts worldwide.
A video depicting seats at the stadium, marred by the unsightly presence of crow droppings, quickly became an internet sensation. The event itself featured a high-stakes showdown between the 2019 ODI World Cup finalists, England and New Zealand.
To the surprise of many, the Narendra Modi Stadium exhibited a peculiar sight with numerous vacant seats during the afternoon match.
A sparse crowd had gathered to witness the commencement of the World Cup, casting a shadow of disappointment across fans from across the globe, who had tuned in via various social media platforms.
One attendee within the stadium shared a video of the World Cup opener, drawing attention to the deplorable condition of certain seating areas.
Watch the Video Here:
For those who are saying, bas ek seat kharab hai, you can judge yourself., iam here in the stadium and iknow the condition. #ENGvNZ #CricketWorldCup2023 pic.twitter.com/yZ1R5xo3ep
— Sourabh Pareek (@CricSourabh7) October 5, 2023
It was evident that the maintenance of the stadium had fallen short of expectations, leading to an unpleasant viewing experience for fans tuning in from the comfort of their homes.
In the sporting aspect of the event, England, batting first, managed to post a total of 282/9 in their allotted 50 overs. This outcome followed New Zealand’s stand-in captain, Tom Latham, winning the toss and electing to field.
Trent Boult, typically a reliable bowler, seemed off-color with the new ball, allowing Jonny Bairstow to capitalize and score briskly.
Meanwhile, Dawid Malan struggled before eventually falling to Matt Henry. Bairstow and Harry Brook (25) also departed relatively quickly, failing to convert their promising starts into substantial scores.
England’s hopes rested on the shoulders of their captain, Jos Buttler, who played a crucial innings of 43 runs and, alongside Joe Root, added 70 runs for the fourth wicket.
However, just when their partnership began to pose a threat, Matt Henry dismissed Buttler, providing New Zealand with a crucial breakthrough.
Glenn Phillips, with figures of 2/17, later removed Joe Root for a well-played 77 in the 42nd over, stemming England’s surge in the final overs. Despite some useful contributions from their lower-order batsmen, England concluded their innings at 282/9.
Reflecting on the first innings, Glenn Phillips expressed satisfaction with New Zealand’s performance. He praised the team’s ability to rein in England after their initial aggressive start and lauded their bowling options.
Phillips also commented on the pitch, stating that it played well throughout the match, with some early movement. He anticipated that the pitch would improve as the game progressed.
In response to England’s target, New Zealand appeared to be in a solid position, reaching 162/1 in 21 overs. Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra both notched half-centuries, setting the stage for an intriguing battle in this highly anticipated World Cup opener.
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