Hyderabad: Australia well and truly deserved the grand entry into the finals of the 2015 Cricket World Cup, but anticipation of an Indian win was high in Hyderabad on Thursday making many cricket lovers stay glued to their TV sets at home.

Attendance in government offices were paper-thin while roads, until late afternoon, were unusually deserted for a non-holiday weekday. Even some schools and colleges were liberal in attendance considering it is once-in-a-four-year spectacle.

India’s consistent winning performance also made enthusiasts ensure they do not miss the high-octane match. Rumours on Wednesday about Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao declaring a holiday on Thursday on account of the match only added to the frenzy.

Attendance in most schools was at best just about 40 per cent on Thursday. “Absenteeism for just a day is acceptable but this was mass bunking because of the semi-final match. Even teachers didn't want to come,” said S. Vijay Reddy, faculty at a private school in Abids.

Some CBSE schools have also begun classes but even there attendance was quite low. Intermediate students were lucky since exams for first year ended on Wednesday while second year students have an exam on Friday. Junior colleges began second year Intermediate classes on Thursday but to wafer-thin attendance.

State syllabus school students had no escape as Class X exams began on Wednesday. But in schools where classes are on, absenteeism touched record highs.

Attendance in the Legislative Assembly was full, Thursday being the last day of the session, but it was also because ministers and MLAs can watch the match live in their chambers.

The state Secretariat was visibly deserted with most department heads and principal secretaries off duty.

“There are hardly any meetings scheduled for today. Everyone understands why someone would ask for a holiday. Attendance must have been less than 30 per cent today,” a senior official in the education department said.