: CWG 2022: Cricket fans from India, Pakistan in full house at Edgbaston warm hearts of cricketers #IndiaNEWS #Sports,Cricket Birmingham, July 31 (IANS) Though Australia are seen as the overwhelming

CWG 2022: Cricket fans from India, Pakistan in full house at Edgbaston warm hearts of cricketers #IndiaNEWS #Sports ,Cricket
Birmingham, July 31 (IANS) Though Australia are seen as the overwhelming favourites for gold medal in womens T20 cricket at 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Sunday mornings atmosphere at Edgbaston resembled the environment of Mumbai and Lahore combined in one when cross-border neighbours India and Pakistan rekindled their fierce rivalry.
Before the start of the multi-nation event, the organisers had said that the match between India and Pakistan has really caught the interest of the local public in Birmingham, which has a huge presence of Indian and Pakistani origin people.
The second Group A match of the respective teams was a crucial one: India, despite having the upper hand against Australia, lost by three wickets. Pakistan, on the other hand, were also coming off a loss, a 15-run defeat from Barbados.
With no bilateral cricket happening between these two teams, a one-off meeting in events like Commonwealth Games and ICC tournaments is how fans from both nations have to be satisfied with. Despite the gloomy weather and rain delaying the toss, there were different hues of blue and green sported by fans in the stands.
Though Indian fans had more reasons to cheer as they coasted to an eight-wicket victory, players from both sides noticed the boisterous crowd support at Edgbaston. Its fun playing in front of a huge crowd, when some of them are cheering for you. I could hear some of the fans cheering my name on the boundary and that felt really good, said all-rounder Sneh Rana, whose spell of 2-15 headlined an impressive Indian bowling show, after the match.
Opener and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, who enthralled the crowd with an unbeaten 63 and sealed Indias eight-wicket win, agreed with Snehs views on the record crowd at Edgbaston reminding them of the spectators back home and urged supporters to come for Indias matches in England. After the Commonwealth Games, India will be playing three ODIs and as many T20Is against England.
In the last few years, we have got a considerable amount of support from our fans. We all enjoy it when we play in front of a big crowd because it motivates you. Whenever theres a catch taken, or a four or a six, the cheer is really special. I would like the fans to come out in big numbers for all our matches because it motivates the whole team. Our fans are amazing. Wherever we play, we feel at home.
Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, who top-scored with 32 off 30 balls, had words of praise for the full house crowd. We really enjoyed the atmosphere and the vibes throughout the match. The crowd is really good, welcoming and supportive.
Muneeba struggled to time her shots but soon found her grove with boundaries off Renuka Thakur and Meghna Singh.

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