Australia vs Sri Lanka World Cup 2023 match delayed due to heavy winds

The ICC World Cup 2023 match between Australia and Sri Lanka happening at the Ekana Stadium on Monday was delayed after heavy winds caused hoardings to fly onto the ground.

A branding banner comes off after heavy winds interrupted play during the Australia vs Sri Lanka match. | Photo Credit: Sandeep Saxena/The Hindu

The ICC World Cup 2023 match between Australia and Sri Lanka happening at the Ekana Stadium on Monday was delayed due to heavy winds.

The incident happened in the 41st over of the Sri Lankan innings. Shortly after Mitchell Starc clean bowled Lahiru Kumara with a yorker, a strong gust of wind blew across the ground, leading to fine dust and some stray plastic bags flying around in the field of play.

Australia’s Mitchell Starc, right, with captain Pat Cummins and umpire experience strong winds to interrupt the game during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup match between Australia and Sri Lanka. | Photo Credit: Aijaz Rahi/AP

However, the wind came back much stronger in the 43rd over, resulting in the branding coming off and falling on the seats below. A brief pause in play ensued, during which the public address system advised spectators to vacate the lower tiers of the stands and move to the seats higher up. The same announcement was repeated during the innings break after Sri Lanka was bowled out for 209.

Australian skipper Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc had a word with the on-field umpire before the ground was cleared up and the game resumed.

The match was earlier disrupted by rain, but the game continued on without any overs lost.

Sri Lanka started the match strongly with Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera putting on a hundred-run partnership. But Australia struck back with some disciplined bowling and committed out-fielding to bring itself back into the game.

Both Australia and Sri Lanka came into the game winless in the tournament.