It was an afternoon game starting at 3 o'clock and we weren't much looking forward to the boiling heat, especially as you aren't even allowed to take water into the stadium and there is hardly any available to buy. Anyway, at the last minute we were told that the tickets we had been given for the match, for the Old Clubhouse Stand, couldn't be used any more because the stand was closed due to a court case. Apparently the stand has been built too close to a monument of some kind and should never have been built in the first place. A bit late to decide that now! Anyway, we were given different tickets, much cheaper and on the lower level.

When we got to the ground it was the usual bun fight to get in, fighting our way through crowds of people, trying to avoid stepping in large puddles of stinking, fetid water. Not the best. We finally got in and through security, not too bad as we had at least known about all the things we aren't allowed to bring, even though it doesn't make any more sense. Why are you not allowed a small camera when mobile phones are allowed and they can take photos and video just the same?

Once inside we went to find somewhere to sit, trying to keep out of the blazing sun. We moved several times during the match in search of shade, and sadly we found that wherever we went the seats were the same, that is filthy dirty. Still, those 6/4 cards came in very handy as seat covers! We enjoyed the game and the Afghan support was very vociferous, lots of drum banging and shouting. (They are allowed to bring drums in, apparently!). To our relief, England won the match but it wasn't easy by any means and for a good part of the game we thought they had blown it. Sighs of relief at the end when we won by 15 runs.

In the evening we went along the road to the Kwality restaurant which has been around since 1940. Very nice inside, and lovely food at reasonable prices. On the TV we watched India play Bangladesh and India came much closer to losing than England did! In the end they won by 2 runs and, to be honest, Bangladesh really should have won and not sure why they didn't. All the Indian people were delighted, though, and who knows, they will probably go on to win the tournament!