In the end, Joginder needn't have worried; Steveda's captaincy acumen made sure events in the final didn't reach that stage. And, as the Australians celebrated on the hallowed turf of Lords and in every city Down Under, a huge roar went up at Seuli. ``Aamader Steveda jite gache'', (Our Steve has won the world cup).

Waugh has a very special affiliation with Seuli; he's set up Udayan, a home for the children of leprosy patients. Today, the 258 residents of the home spent the day following each ball of the match as keenly as if they were all third umpires.

It's something they've been doing all through the world cup, even when India took on Australia inthe first of the Super Six match and lost. Says 12-year-old Nasir Ansari, ``When India played Australia we wanted Australia to win. Actually, we can't stand Steve losing any match. And for us Australia is synonymous with Steveda.'' The children sent a huge greetings card to Steve in London with a portrait of him on it and the message, ``Good Luck Steve''.

Don't call these children anti-national; it's just that their love for Waugh is pretty overwhelming. As it should be, after all he's done for them. The Australian captain's tryst with Udayan began in 1988, when he came to Calcutta to play a Test match with India. At that time, in an interview with a Calcutta newspaper, he said he wanted to get involved with an organisation involved in social service. After the interview was published, the officials of Udayan -- originally set up by French author Dominique Lapierre in the '70s -- got in touch with Waugh, who paid a visit to the Home. From then on he kept on sending aid in various forms to this home. Healso raised funds for another home, meant for girls suffering from leprosy and girls from families of leprosy patients. He laid the foundation stone of the home, called Nivedita Bhavan, when he came here again this year. The construction of the home is complete now and Steve is expected to visit and inaugurate this home in August.

Just one month before the World Cup began, Steve sent 300 cots and beds for the children. He also donated cricket kits for the children. ``We knew that Steveda would win. We knew our prayers for him would not fail,'' said Ram Sinha, 10. Maybe, just maybe,all the prayers and good wishes paid off for Waugh today. At Udayan, they certainly believe so.