Dambulla Aura took on Dasun Shanaka-led Galle Titans in the Lanka Premier League 2023 game on July 31 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The Dambulla Aura vs Galle Titans clash witnessed a rather unusual incident as the game was stopped for some time as a snake entered the ground.
Lanka Premier League match halted by a Snake
The Dambulla Aura batters came in with an intention to chase down the target of 181 runs set by Galle Titans. However, after the 4th over there was a brief interruption in the game as a snake was seen crawling near the boundary ropes.
Meanwhile, the fourth umpire made sure that the snake was safely escorted back off the ground after which the game was resumed. The video of the weird incident went viral across social media platforms in a short while.
Hello, stranger. Where is your accreditation card? 🐍
— LPL – Lanka Premier League (@LPLT20) July 31, 2023
Even the Sri Lankan wildlife can't resist the action at the LPL! 🏏#LPL2023 #LiveTheAction pic.twitter.com/R9Fa5k1D3p
Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik, upon observing the incident, chose to share a humorous tweet in response. In his tweet, Karthik playfully mocked the Bangladesh cricket team, alluding to the notorious ‘nagin dance’ incident during the Nidahas Trophy in 2018. Karthik wrote ‘The naagin is back, I thought it was in Bangladesh’.
The naagin is back
— DK (@DineshKarthik) July 31, 2023
I thought it was in Bangladesh 🤣😂🤣😂🤣#naagindance#nidahastrophy https://t.co/hwn6zcOxqy
Talking about the game, Dambulla Aura skipper Kusal Mendis won the toss and elected to field first on a batting-friendly wicket at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Galle Titans’ opener Shevon Daniel provided them a steady start and went on to score 33 runs off just 26 deliveries.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa then played an impressive knock of 48 runs off just 34 deliveries including 5 fours and 2 maximums. Skipper Dasun Shanaka provided them the finishing touch and played an unbeaten knock of 42 runs in just 21 deliveries including 4 huge sixes.
Pacer Shahnawaz Dahani took 2 crucial wickets for the Dambulla Aura side. Binura Fernando and Dhananjaya de Silva took a wicket each as they restricted the opponent side at a total of 180-5.
In response to the massive target, the Dambulla-based franchise lost both their openers in quick succession. Kusal Perera and Dhananjaya de Silva then made a formidable partnership for the third wicket and provided the much-needed momentum to their innings.
While De Silva scored 43 off just 31 deliveries, Perera went on to play a quick-fire knock of 40 runs off just 25 deliveries. Alex Ross remained on the crease till the last delivery and scored 39 runs and eventually took his side to level the scores on the final delivery of the game.
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The Galle Titans side needed to score 10 runs in the super over to clinch the game after Kasun Rajitha bowled an excellent over. They eventually won the game as Bhanuka Rajapaksa smashed a four and a six off the first two deliveries of the super over.
