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Nagpur - Australia and New Zealand paused in the middle of their crucial Cricket World Cup clash on Friday to remember the victims of the devastating Christchurch earthquake.
Shortly before world champions Australia began their quest for the 207 runs they needed for victory in Nagpur, players from both sides stood shoulder to shoulder, forming a circle on the outfield.
At least 113 people have been killed following Tuesday's 6.3-magnitude earthquake which caused widespread destruction in the New Zealand city.
Both teams wore black armbands and before the match started there was a traditional minute's silence as fans and players remembered the victims of the tragedy.
But there were barely a couple of hundred people inside the VCA Ground for the start of the game between the trans-Tasman rivals in another example of the administrative chaos that has dogged this event so far.
As television cameras panned around the ground they found a small knot of Kiwi fans with one spectator holding aloft a simple message on a plain white piece of paper that said: "Thinking of you Christchurch."
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori had previously summed up the mood of the squad.
"It has been difficult but I suppose when we put it into perspective, it's nothing compared to what the people back home in Christchurch and all over New Zealand are going through.
"The whole country is hurting immensely and the team feels exactly the same way."
The Australian support staff joined the players in taking the field for the pre-match ceremony.
"As an Australian team, we've all been extremely saddened by what we've seen happen in Christchurch in the last few days," Ponting said earlier.
"We are neighbours and we treat each other as brothers," he added.
