Seldom, if ever, has a Garda presence been seen at a cricket match in the Republic. But the Boys in Blue were there in, er, force at Castle Avenue yesterday, where a capacity attendance enjoyed every minute of the World Cup match between the West Indies and Bangladesh.

Hooters, drums and a calypso band created a cacophony of noise. Although the start was delayed by half an hour because of rain, it did nothing to dampen the spirits of the spectators. Castle Avenue was en fete, replete with seating all around the ground, food wagons, beer tents and a tented village, and everyone was determined to make the most of the biggest cricket match ever to be staged in the Republic.

The wind which blew across the field was lively and gusting. But early on, when a spectator's sun hat was blown out on to the middle, one of the Bangladesh fielders ran and retrieved it.

And, though this was a highly competitive contest, the players from both sides readily signed the books of the youthful autograph-hunters, even during breaks of play when they were on the field.

It was that kind of day.