Residents watch the match at Hotel Chanakya in Patna. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, March 30: Giant screens and special menu — everything was in place at hotels and clubs in the city to make the second semi-final between India and Pakistan a memorable one.

Most of the hotels had facilities in place to screen the match for the guests. While Hotel Chanakya had a LCD screen in place, Hotel Maurya treated their guests to the match on a projector.

There was also food named after cricketers and the game, apart from offering a complementary pint of beer after five beers.

“Cricket fever has gripped the city with India being one of the prime contenders to lift the Cup. The crowd will grow bigger and this is the reason we have added new items to our menu. And of course, the chef’s personal touch to the dishes makes the meal very special,” said restaurant manager of Hotel Chanakya Aftab Alam.

The restaurant at Hotel Maurya has been also tastefully designed for the World Cup. “It is a totally new concept and the customers are liking it a lot,” said restaurant manager Kunal Trivedi.

“We are serving both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Super Sixes (a dish of roasted chicken) comes at Rs 400. Hattrick Kebabs and Googly, a dessert dish, is also on the menu. The items are very popular with the guests. The number of guests visiting the restaurant has also increased, especially for today’s match,” said Trivedi.

Suresh Singh, a resident of Patliputra Colony, said: “A match between India and Pakistan, that too in the World Cup, is a dream come true. I really liked the concept of naming the items on the players. If Sachin had scored his 100th ton, I would have had one more peg. But he performed well today and was very lucky as the Pakistan players dropped several of his catches.”

The city clubs like Bankipore and New Patna are also doing brisk business.

Rahul Shrivastav, a resident of Buddha Colony who was at the Bankipore Club, said: “The club should offer extra drinks on sixes, wickets, extra runs and hattricks. I enjoyed watching the match at the club. India has scored a good total and it will be a tough fight. The ball will swing more in the second innings and the bowlers will get the benefit, as the outfield will be slower because of dew.”

Ajit Kumar, who was at the New Patna Club, said: “I am here since the match started and will be here until the match is over. I don’t like leaving a match in between as it breaks the rhythm. And nobody wants to miss this match. God is there with India — I will again come here on April 2 when India will play Sri Lanka in the final at Mumbai.”