WATCH | In case you’d forgotten, this is what a crowd in a cricket stadium looks like
Cricket SA put an additional 3,000 tickets on sale, on top of the 1,500 already sold for Wednesday's ODI between SA and Bangladesh in Centurion, and fans filtering into SuperSport Park were soon creating a festive atmosphere.
CSA's increase in tickets for the series-deciding third ODI followed President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement on Tuesday night that the limits of 1,000 people for indoor gatherings and 2,000 outdoors had been lifted.
#Bangladesh fans in seventh heaven after they bowled out #SA for 1️⃣5️⃣4️⃣.
— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) March 23, 2022
Bangladesh need 1️⃣5️⃣5️⃣ runs to win this ODI series 2-1.#SAvBAN pic.twitter.com/sloM1g1VwN
Professional sports events can now host crowds of 50% capacity of a venue, provided proof of vaccination or a Covid-19 test for spectators had been provided.
Bangladesh fans enjoying themselves here in Centurion.#SAvBAN pic.twitter.com/VI8zwblRzw
— Tiisetso Malepa (@TiisetsoMalepa) March 23, 2022
As SuperSport Park fills up for the ODI, the crowd is expected to grow to the largest seen at any SA sports match since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic almost exactly two years ago.
3rd ODI Video Preview #SAvBAN pic.twitter.com/MWktVataT0
— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) March 23, 2022
Professional sport was initially shut down completely by the outbreak of Covid-19 in SA. Slowly major codes put forward their plans for return to play with strict measures and in the confines of carefully formulated biosecure environments.
It's a carnival.
— Tiisetso Malepa (@TiisetsoMalepa) March 23, 2022
The band doing its thing.
It's a good crowd.
The Bangladesh fans are cheering on every delivery.
SA won the toss and chose to bat first.
They're 77/4 after 16 overs.
Openers De Kock and J Malan, Kyle Verreynne and Temba Bavuma all gone.
Is it Miller time?#SAvBAN pic.twitter.com/PDUHzz6EfO
The 2,000 restriction on crowds was a first step towards getting spectators back into sports stadiums. Now the 50% capacity restriction will allow sport to operate live events with some form of profitability enabled.
Football fans plead with #PSL to open up stadiums. pic.twitter.com/9HVgljFwtb
— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) March 23, 2022
Fans are back at SuperSport Park for the 3rd ODI between #Proteas and #Bangladesh. pic.twitter.com/YdRRw1v4Ja
— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) March 23, 2022