GUWAHATI, Nov. 6: Fans here were left heartbroken after the Mumbai terror attacks back in November, 2008 deprived them of witnessing Mahendra Singh Dhoni and company’s dominance over a hapless England. However, this time, spectators at the Nehru Stadium are set to get their money’s worth when Team India battle for survival on Sunday.

Sachin Tendulkar’s Herculean effort back on Thursday evening had already upped the ante as no more tickets are left to be sold.

Therefore, one can be sure the capacity crowd will scream their lungs out and gear the hosts up to restore parity, after the agonising three-run defeat in the fifth ODI that separates India from a depleted Australian side.

On Friday, fans assembled near the team hotel hours before Indian squad arrived. No sooner did the team bus become visible that roars of "Sachin! Sachin!" were heard. Incidentally, the maestro was the first one to get down from the bus albeit with a tired look on his face.

However, security is one aspect, which is the concern of all. The police have opted for a security blanket. "About 150 metres from the stadium, 144 CrPC will be imposed," security-in-charge and IGP, Central Range Pallab Bhattacharya, said.

run feast on the cards

One-dayers in Guwahati haven’t usually been about bowlers being belted to all parts of the ground. Rather, teams batting second at the Nehru Stadium pitch have often found it difficult to chase down even scores of 230.

For example, when Australia last played here in 2003 against New Zealand, the Kiwis collapsed to 181 chasing just 226. In that sense, India’s victory over Pakistan in 2007 looks to be an exception as the hosts’ crafty batting saw them successfully chase down a target of 240.

Nevertheless, the 22-yard strip for the sixth ODI, which is a do-or-die game for Team India, promises a run-feast. Going by what curator East Zone (BCCI) Ratul Das says, the pitch is similar to the one used in Hyderabad last Thursday where 350 too appeared chaseble.

"It’s a typical one-day wicket loaded in favour of batsmen. If teams bat well, they can very well post a total of around 300 or more," Das said on Friday.

Early morning moisture has always been a factor in this part of the country. In order to prevent dew from having an impact in the game, measures such as the super-sopper, and special pipes have been kept in store.

"We have arranged things in such a way that players won’t get even a feel of moisture," Das claimed.