The jam packed make-shift stands at the Sadashivrao Mane Patil High School are a clear indication of the love people have for this game here. Each and every shot is applauded by the spectators who have occupied every nook and corner of the school.

The spectators also lined up the walls and the tree tops on the opening day of the five-day West Zone women's cricket between Mumbai and Goa. ``Rare!'' comes the reply when the school teacher is queried about the presence of more indigenous games, a contradiction to the rural setting of the place. ``We do have some of them but it is cricket that has creeped into the minds of the youngsters. Cricket might have come into the nation during the Britishers rule, but here in this small rural village in the Western ghats, it is their first love after their cattle, as every one owns or is a caretaker of at least one of them.

The talk of the village today is just cricket. As one of the milk vendors in one of the small hotels said, ``Mala mahilayche cricket bagacho (I want to witness the women's cricket).'' He went on to add, ``I have seen Sachin Tendulkar playing on the screen but this is a major live match that I am getting the chance to see.''

This is all because of `Pappa' as Pratapsinh Mohite Patil, the state minister for co-operatives, is fondly called by the people here. It is with his guidance, the support of the Maharashtra State Women's Cricket Association (MSWCA) and the help of his wife Padmajadevi Mohite Patil, the organising secretary, that this tournament has come to the small village which has a population of just 30,000.

``The players are amazed. I have never played in front of such a big crowd,'' said Sulakshana, the captain of the Mumbai team. Her Goan counterpart Irina Cordo who exclaims, `` This is something out of the world. The crowd is amazing and I love playing in front of them.''

All the ingredients for conducting a major tournament are abundantly available here in this village, but the only drawback is the wicket. The matches here are being played on matting wickets. ``We are looking at this seriously and maybe in the days to come we might even be owning a wicket here,'' stated Padmajadevi Pratapsinh Mohite Patil, who was present for the days proceedings at the school ground.