Fans come out for first ODI at Kensington Oval

Hundreds of spectators flocked to Kensington Oval on Thursday for the first One Day International (ODI) between West Indies and India – though the outing was much shorter than they would have anticipated.

However, the crowd was a far cry from those seen during an English tour and there was no Party Stand in use.

The majority of seats in the Worrell, Weekes & Walcott Stand and Greenidge & Haynes Stand were occupied, while there were just a few patrons in the Hewitt & Inniss stand.

Long before the scheduled 9:30 a.m. start, there was a buzz outside Kensington Oval as excited patrons, including a large number of children, lined up to get inside.

There was also a long line outside of the box office, where some people complained of having to wait excessively long periods to purchase tickets.

The normal hustle and bustle inside Kensington Oval was also missing, with only a few of the concession stands open to serve patrons, which resulted in long lines and lengthy waiting times for food.

West Indies’ fans did not have much to cheer about though, as the home side was bundled out for just 114, with only captain Shai Hope putting up any resistance with a score of 43.

But even after India wrapped up a comfortable five-wicket victory by 1:45 p.m., the scores of children in attendance clamoured for Hope’s attention and he obliged by signing autographs and taking photographs with them.

The second ODI is set for Saturday.

(RB)

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