April 25, 2007	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 07, 1428

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KINGSTON, April 24: As World Cup heads to a dramatic crescendo with this week's semi-finals and final, tournament organisers have revealed that attendance has now broken 400,000 threshold.

Figures following conclusion of Super Eights phase of competition last Saturday – and inclusive of 10,300 persons at Opening Ceremony – indicate that over 403,000 fans have taken in sporting spectacle so far; with an average 8,500 supporters per match.

The highest match attendance was a massive 22,452 as fans from all across the world packed into Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, for final Super Eights game – featuring England and West Indies – to give retiring West Indies captain and world batting record-holder, Brian Lara, a princely farewell after 17 years on international stage.

England's decisive Super match-up against South Africa – also at Kensington – drew second-highest attendance with 17,013 supporters passing through turnstiles while opening Group Stage match – West Indies versus Pakistan – had third-highest attendance of 16,574.

Meanwhile, corrected statistics show India-Sri Lanka Group Stage game – initially reported to have been watched by more than 16,000 spectators – in fact had 10,660 fans in attendance.

More than 570,000 tickets have so far been sold and distributed for Event which began on March 13.—Agencies