By India Today Sports Desk: On Monday, July 31, an unexpected visitor slithered its way into the spotlight during a high-stakes cricket match between the Dambulla Giants and the Galle Gladiators. The game was part of the Lanka Premier League (LPL), Sri Lanka’s premier franchise cricket tournament. The match took an unforeseen turn when a snake made its way onto the field, causing a brief pause in play in the second innings of the match.
The match had been progressing with its usual intensity, with the Galle Gladiators setting a challenging target of 181 runs for the Dambulla Giants. The Gladiators, boasting a well-balanced team, had put up a commendable performance in the first innings. Sri Lankan international player Bhanuka Rajapaksa led the charge with a fiery 48 off 34 balls. He was ably supported by star all-rounders Shakib Al Hasan and captain Dasun Shanaka, who contributed 23 off 14 and 42 off 21 respectively.
As the Dambulla Giants began their chase, they were at 27 runs for the loss of 2 wickets after just four overs. However, the game was abruptly halted when a snake appeared on the field. The unexpected interruption caused a stir among players and spectators alike, as officials scrambled to remove the reptile from the playing area.
This incident is reminiscent of a similar occurrence in Guatemalan football earlier last year. In February 2022, a first division match between Nueva Concepcion and Municipal was brought to a standstill when a 1.5-meter-long snake invaded the pitch. The game was paused as multiple staff members, including two police officers, intervened to capture and remove the reptile.
Back in Sri Lanka, the match officials managed to scare the snake out of the boundary ropes, allowing play to resume. Despite the interruption, the Dambulla Giants’ middle order attacked the Gladiators’ bowling attack, hitting 180 runs and pushing the match into a Super Over.
In the Super Over, Galle Gladiators, needing 11 runs to win, finished the in just two balls. Bhanuka Rajapaksa hit a four and a six in two balls to sail Gladiators through to a victory. Dasun Shanaka was adjudged the player of the match for his handy batting and 3 crucial wickets in the second innings of the game.