Hove - They came with their flags, drums, whistles and chants, thronging the small seaside resort better known for its holiday flats and sea view and cosy retirement villages. The World Cup had come to Sussex and the small county ground would jump and jive all day.

In fact you gained the impression that while the five week event was officially opened at Lord's on Friday, the England-Sri Lanka match played here yesterday was a mere sideshow: the real event was South Africa and India.

Such was the passion yet good natured banter between supporters that even the flag waving exercises and chants was carried off without any noticeable incidents.

While South Africa and India started their rivalry in November 1991 and are the oldest combatants in the new South Africa, until yesterday the Safs had won 18 of the 27 games, which gave India eight wins and a no result match.

But what are such statistics when the whole sub-continent, and a large number of those Asians living in England, have been waiting for months for this clash? In fact the World Cup 1999 is a major sell out in Asia; for the millions in India the rest of the world doesn't exist only cricket. It is the sport of the people and they are the ones who count.

If the ICC are in need of advice they should host every alternate World Cup on the sub-continent.

Yesterday the sub-continent came to the Sussex seaside anxious their team does well; most of them are first or second generation British-born, but no matter, they passionately support their team and are proud to tell you about it.