T20 dazzles at Kardinia Park

INTERNATIONAL cricket has lit up Kardinia Park this week, with the stadium hosting four teams and six games over three days in this year’s ICC T20 World Cup.

The Group A action began on Sunday afternoon with Namibia’s unexpected victory over Sri Lanka in the tournament’s opening game.

This was followed by a night game that went down to the wire and saw Netherlands squeak home against United Arab Emirates with one ball to spare.

Kardinia Park Stadium Trust chief executive officer Gerard Griffin said he was particularly pleased with the first day.

“The atmosphere was fantastic, we had just over 16,000 people in the venue over the course of the two games.

“The Sri Lankan fans and their behaviour was exceptional – you’ve got to remember they lost the game – and they celebrated cricket and life very, very well.

“Two great games on the field, a good, well-behaved and happy crowd, a lot of new people who probably wouldn’t have seen Kardinia Park until Sunday… we’re very pleased with the day.”

He said the ICC and the Local Organising Committee were also happy with the games and the way they were presented, as were the four competing sides.

“For the four teams [on Sunday], it was very much getting into an environment that was foreign to them, how our pitches would play, how the ground would play, especially the difference between day conditions and evening conditions.

“The pitch played well – bat on ball was good, speed of the wicket was good, consistency of the wicket was good.”

Mr Griffin said Namibia’s upset win over Sri Lanka was akin to Scotland’s defeat of the West Indies in Hobart the next day in Group B and had “thrown a bit of spice into the competition”.

“This first round of the competition, you’ve got a bit of interest in there.”

He said the TV coverage of the games and the stadium was also excellent.

“I’ve got to hand it to the ICC and the way they’re broadcasting these games; their shooting of the match is excellent, and with aerial shots of the venue, it’s coming up great on TV and the region’s coming up great on TV.”

The top two sides from Group A and Group B will advance to the Super 12 stage, which begins tomorrow (Saturday, October 22).

For full results and fixtures, head to t20worldcup.com