Howzat! Cricket fun in the Brum sun

Aug 28 2007 By Gary Marks, Birmingham Mail

EDGBASTON Cricket Ground was transformed into a sea of light blue as thousands of India fans watched their side beaten in the one-day international.

Hordes of horns and a cacophony of drums greeted the players - but India supporters were left disappointed as England comfortably won.

The friendly and lively atmosphere came as England piled up 281 for eight and then fielded superbly to go 2-1 up in the NatWest Series.

Warwickshire's Ian Bell was made Man of the Match as England's cricketers beat India at a packed Edgbaston yesterday.

An official crowd figure for the one-day international of 21,079 was given, the last of the tickets having been sold on Saturday morning.

Keith Cook, Edgbaston's Director of Operations, said: "There's been a huge amount of interest in this game, as we thought would be the case.

"There's a big Indian community round here and they've turned up in their numbers to support their team. It's all been played in a great spirit and it made for a great atmosphere as they make a lot of noise with their drums and all the banging and the singing.

"And it was great for the local supporters seeing Ian Bell in such good form and getting his third good score in a row, and on home soil, too."