Cuttack, May 11: Barabati Stadium again played a gracious host as over 37,000 people turned up to watch the second match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) between Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders here today.

Though the turnout was slightly low compared to the attendance for the first match on May 7 between Kings XI and Chennai Super Kings, the atmosphere at the stadium was electrifying with equal support for both the teams. Knight Riders, however, had the last laugh despite old warhorse Virendra Sehwag showing a flash of his old form for Kings XI.

Though it was a Sunday, the match was played at 4pm when it was still hot. The crowd comprised mostly youngsters, both boys and girls, who cheered their favourite teams.

“As it was a Sunday, our family decided to watch the match together at Barabati,” said Gargi Satpathy, a spectator.

Preity Zinta flanked by additional commissioner of police Santosh Bala (left) and Odisha Cricket Association president Ranjib Biswal (right)

Young fans of Kolkata Knight Riders cheer in gallery

Kings XI Punjab supporters not far behind

Braving the sun, crowd turned out in huge numbers at Barabati Stadium

Blow it loud

Flaunt your style

Hip hip hurrah. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Uncertainty had loomed over the match with the Met office predicting rain, but the sky over Cuttack was clear today. The day was bright which enthused the crowd.

“We had just come to cheer for Virendra Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and were keen to watch another Maxwell storm at Barabati. However, we were disappointed as it turned out to be a low scoring game,” said Priya Das, another spectator.

It had been raining for the last 36 hours in the city. The ground staff of Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) continued with their extraordinary efforts to dry the outfield to make the ground ready for the match. However, the pitch was on the slower side with Kings XI being restricted to 149 runs, which was below par on their current form.

“The overcast conditions and subsequent drizzle through out yesterday was a bit of a concern. However, the pitch was covered while there was no change in the outfield that was fast despite the drizzle last night,” said chief curator Pankaj Patnaik. The spectators had queued up near the entry gates much before the start of the game braving the intense heat in the afternoon.

“We were worried whether any game would be possible or not at Barabati after coming to know of the forecast. But things changed later on. We had come to Cuttack specially from Berhampur to see Punjab’s spectacular performance,” said 32-year-old Gopal Krushna Mekap, who was excited at his first outing at Barabati.

As the duel between the two sides continued on the 22 yards, a lot of roadside eateries and hotels around Barabati stadium complex did excellent business.

“We are happy that this time three IPL matches are being played at Barabati. So far they have done good business as the spectators coming to the stadium prefer food that they can take with them to enter the stadium,” said Pratap Behera, a fast food vendor.

The police had taken steps to ensure a trouble-free match. “The security arrangement was the same as it was for the first match. Around 36 platoons of police force deployed in and around the stadium and along the road leading upto the stadium from Bhubaneswar. We had taken appropriate measures to ensure that nothing untoward happened,” said police commissioner R.P. Sharma.

Representatives from both Punjab and Kolkata teams had a meeting two days ago with Sharma over security arrangements. The police commissioner also said that similar security arrangement would be there for the third match of the season to be played here on May 14.

Officials of the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) said that Kings XI Punjab had made Barabati their home venue for these two matches, while Knight Riders’ battle with Mumbai Indians will be held here on May 14. The match has been shifted to Cuttack from the Eden Gardens.

The sale of tickets for the third T20 match at Barabati Stadium between Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians will begin on Monday. There has been no change in the rates of tickets, which have been priced at Rs 200, 300, 400, 500, 1,000, 1,500, 3,000, 4,000 and Rs 5,000. However, tickets for students have been priced at Rs 200.