Fans bowled over as Cricket World Cup gets underway on Long Island
NEW YORK - History was made on Long Island Monday as the first-ever Cricket World Cup match in the U.S. was held at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow.
It's something cricket fans in New York have been waiting for for a very long time.
"It's an overwhelming feeling. Words can't describe how much it was a joy to be here. The crowd was fantastic," Dulston Hermans said.
South Africa defeated Sri Lanka in the first-ever Cricket World Cup game played at the .
Twenty countries are competing for the 2024 World Cup trophy in a 55-match tournament. For the first time, it's being hosted by the United States and the West Indies. Monday's Sri Lanka vs. South Africa matchup was one of eight games being played on the pitch in New York.
Security was stepped up to make sure fans, players and workers were all safe.
"NYPD, state police, MTA police, Port Authority police, our village police departments, our New York state Parks police, FBI - you name it. Everybody's working together. Our fire marshal, our volunteer firefighters, our Office of Emergency Management, our great Parks Department, our Department of Public Works, all working as a team to make sure this is the best fan experience," Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said.
Fans excited the matches are underway in the U.S.
"It's once in our lifetime we get to watch a cricket game in U.S.A., and it's a World Cup? Right, every two-three years, the whole world is playing against each other? You have to come watch that," Wisconsin resident Chanaka Mendis said.
"When we just came here to America, you got cricket news when people came up from the islands. This is fantastic. This is the best thing that could have happened for cricket in the world," Queens resident Mike Telfar said.
"Big step to promote cricket in the United States. I'm pretty sure about that it'll gain big momentum after this," Detroit resident Vinod Pillai said.
For cricket enthusiasts, just having the game played in the U.S. - the country they migrated to decades ago - was a win.
"To get the experience. The World Cup T20 is my sport," said Marsell Bryan, who traveled from Jamaica to attend the match.
Fans from all parts of the U.S. and the world are in attendance, many taking several days off just to be inside the stadium to witness the first World Cup cricket ball to be bowled in the U.S.
"I have three games at least. I'm trying to get a fourth one," New Jersey resident Zohaib Kureshi said.
The eight games in Eisenhower Park culminate in Sunday's big showdown: India vs. Pakistan, and U.S.A. vs. India.
If you can't make it to the matches, there are viewing parties available. The Cricket World Cup is also causing traffic disruptions you ought to know about if you're headed to see it in person.