<p>With most people glued to television sets for the Cricket World Cup semi-final between India and Australia on Thursday, roads here were far less crowded and driving was a pleasure.<br /><br /></p>.<p>There were hardly any traffic jams during the morning rush hour—a rarity in a City with a vehicle population of more than 50 lakh. <br /><br />Cricket fans had made sure they didn’t miss the action. Many had skipped work, others had made reservations in restaurants and pubs across the City to watch the game. Pubs and restaurants in Indiranagar, Malleswaram, MG Road, Brigade Road, Koramangala, etc made brisk business as youngsters thronged the places to watch the match over food and drinks. <br />Information Technology (IT) companies had arranged for live telecast of the match in their cafeteria and food courts to lure employees to stay at the workplace. <br /><br />But as Australia comfortably beat the defending champions, the excitement died down by evening. <br /><br />Pankaj, who works as a manager at an IT firm on Old Airport Road, watched the match at his workplace. “The entire staff couldn’t have skipped work to watch the match. So, the match was telecast live in the cafeteria so that employees could catch the action during the breaks,” he said. “It’s another matter that the Men in Blue didn’t quite put up a fight.”</p>
<p>With most people glued to television sets for the Cricket World Cup semi-final between India and Australia on Thursday, roads here were far less crowded and driving was a pleasure.<br /><br /></p>.<p>There were hardly any traffic jams during the morning rush hour—a rarity in a City with a vehicle population of more than 50 lakh. <br /><br />Cricket fans had made sure they didn’t miss the action. Many had skipped work, others had made reservations in restaurants and pubs across the City to watch the game. Pubs and restaurants in Indiranagar, Malleswaram, MG Road, Brigade Road, Koramangala, etc made brisk business as youngsters thronged the places to watch the match over food and drinks. <br />Information Technology (IT) companies had arranged for live telecast of the match in their cafeteria and food courts to lure employees to stay at the workplace. <br /><br />But as Australia comfortably beat the defending champions, the excitement died down by evening. <br /><br />Pankaj, who works as a manager at an IT firm on Old Airport Road, watched the match at his workplace. “The entire staff couldn’t have skipped work to watch the match. So, the match was telecast live in the cafeteria so that employees could catch the action during the breaks,” he said. “It’s another matter that the Men in Blue didn’t quite put up a fight.”</p>
