BASSETERRE (St Kitts), March 24: World champions Australia and South Africa, the world number one, went head to head on Saturday, but even that mouth-watering contest failed to ignite the fans' passion at Warner Park.

The organisers had hoped the festive atmosphere would build up for Saturday's final Group A match on this tiny island, but only three-quarters of the 10,500 capacity stadium was full.

“We had hoped it would be a capacity crowd and we still expect that as the day goes on more and more people will come to fill the stadium,” said a member of the organising committee.

Some believe the one-sided matches earlier in the group have destroyed the atmosphere here.

“What was the use of having no-contests like Australia-Scotland opening the matches here in the St Kitts? They should have scheduled bigger matches first like they did in Jamaica where the West Indies played Pakistan,” said Cosbert Hemmings, a spectator at the stadium.

Scotland and the Netherlands lost their matches against Australia and South Africa by big margins, contests which were played in a ground just a third full.

“The high ticket prices may be a deterrent but for quality cricket you have to pay,” said Charles Wilkins, chairman of the organising committee last week.

The high price stands, charging US$90, were not even half-full but the cheaper ones of $25, 55 and 80 (including food and drinks) were the most filled with yellow Australian shirts outnumbering green South African shirts.

“It boils down to the economy. The Australians are better off in that - air fares, tickets and other things they are here in big numbers,” said Neil Delesca, who came from Durban.

Australian businessman Bruce David is here from Sydney with his four sons who were all sporting Australian team shirts with skipper Ricky Ponting's number 14.

“It is two in one – cruise and cricket,” said David.

Warner Park, close to the beach, hosted its first One-day International and Test – both between the West Indies and India – last year and has since undergone a facelift of $18 million paid for by the Taiwan government.—AFP