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Watch: Isuru Udana gets startled by snake on-field at Lanka Premier League 2023

by Wisden Staff August 13, 2023 - 1:10pm 3 minute read

Watch: Twelve days after a snake stopped an LPL match, another serpentine invasion took place at the Lanka Premier League 2023.

A snake had stopped an LPL 2023 match between Galle Titans and Dambulla Aura as Shakib Al Hasan came on to bowl at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. A brave match official had to escort it beyond the boundary ropes.

Nearly two weeks passed before B-Love Kandy opted to bat against the Jaffna Kings in Match 15 of the tournament at the same venue. Kandy posted 178-8 as Mohammad Haris made 81 in 51 balls. For Jaffna, Nuwan Thushara claimed 3-31, Dilshan Madushanka 2-31, and Dulith Wellalage 2-43.

Opening bowling, Angelo Mathews (3-10) then quickly reduced Jaffna to 16-3 before Shoaib Malik (55 in 37 balls) and Thisara Perera (36 in 20) consolidated the innings. After 17 overs, Jaffna were 138-5 with Malik and Thisara at the crease.

Nuwan Pradeep began the 18th over with a wide down the leg side. Malik ran a single. A snake – it is not clear whether it was the same one as before – meandered around Isuru Udana at deep mid wicket. A startled Udana ran away.

Dushmantha Chameera needed to defend 18 in the last over, but Jaffna managed only eight off the first five balls before Wellalage pushed the last ball for a net-run-rate-boosting single. As the Kandy fielders celebrated, the snake entered the playing arena again.

Snakes have invaded cricket grounds in the past. English fielders refused to stand at deep fine leg during their match against Sri Lankan Board President’s XI at Colombo in 2007/08. Last October, a snake stopped a T20I between India and South Africa in Guwahati.

And when when political extremists threatened to release snakes if Feroz Shah Kotla hosted the Test match against Pakistan, the DDCA placed Delhi’s most reputed snake charmers in the stands.