A nail-biting finish kept 8,000 cricket fans on their feet as England and Sri Lanka fought to the last ball in a thrilling ICC CWC 2007 Super 8 encounter at Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Grounds yesterday.

English and Sri Lankan visitors, as well as fans from Antigua & Barbuda, CARICOM and other countries, cheered on both teams in the see-saw battle. Chants, music and the occasional Mexican wave added to what England's captain, Michael Vaughan, described as the “best atmosphere we have experienced so far in the Caribbean”.

Sri Lankan fast bowler, Dilhara Fernando, kept his composure in the final over of England's reply to spur his team to a dramatic two-run victory and catapult them to second place in the race for Semi-Final berths.

As the tension unfolded at the scenic stadium, some spectators chose to cool off and ease their nerves by splashing in Beach 366's wading pool. Others picnicked on the grass berms.

“Today was awesome! We don't really follow cricket but we wanted to be here for the World Cup. We flew in from New York and we really enjoyed it. This must have been the best game ever!” exclaimed Veronica Townsend and Andrea Thomas; both Antiguans living in the UK.

Meanwhile, interest has risen in the Easter Sunday match between Australia and England. Fans are urged to make sure they purchase their tickets before the weekend. This is the game many persons have been looking forward to and, after yesterday, anticipation is sure to be even higher.

Ticket prices start as low as US$25 with the popular Beach 366 – the Party Stand – costing US$90. Tickets can be bought at the Perimeter Box office, outside the stadium, on Match Day or at the CWC Official Ticket Centre located at the corner of Independence Avenue and Long Street in St. John's.

“This will be the last Cricket World Cup match at Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Grounds and we want to make it a grand occasion. The build-up has been slow, but we know this will be a very special day,” said Brenda Lee Browne, Media and Communications Consultant of the Antigua & Barbuda Local Organising Committee (LOC).

“We are looking forward to families taking advantage of this unique event and coming out to be part of history and experience cricket in these new world-class surroundings of which the entire country should be proud.”