A bee swarm stops play during the Cricket World Cup match between Sri Lanka and South Africa in Durham. Photo: ICC Media Zone
Bees stopped play, again – Proteas hit the deck in Durham [video]
Bees stopped play during Sri Lanka and South Africa’s World Cup game in Durham, not the first time these two sides have had to suddenly hit the deck.
A bee swarm stops play during the Cricket World Cup match between Sri Lanka and South Africa in Durham. Photo: ICC Media Zone
Proteas won the toss and elected to bowl first but suffered an unusual interruption as bees stopped play.
Sri Lanka stuttered their way to 203 all out but on the way had their innings interrupted by bees. Making it that much more unusual, these two sides were involved in another bee invasion, in the Pink ODI at the Wanderers in February of 2017.
Some were left confused as an initially invisible menace caused the players out in the middle to hit the deck.
Chris Morris had just delivered the ball and the batsmen completed a single before the sudden collapse.
The break came in the 48th over and soon afterwards Isuru Udana miscued a short ball from Kagiso Rabada straight back to the bowler.
Two of the South Africans have also been stung on the field before, with Quinton de Kock once missing a stumping because of a bee sting, while Rassie van der Dussen once had to retire hurt because of a sting in a domestic game.
Dwaine Pretorius confirmed that it was a very large swarm of bees that caused all the players and officials to hit the deck at the Riverside stadium.
“It was the type of wicket where you just had to be disciplined,” Pretorius said of the pitch.
“I think the partnerships worked well today and that was the best performance of the tournament so far. It’s just basic, basic cricket. Hit the top of off. The wicket looks slightly slow, big outfield. So I think good cricket shots for us and running hard is going to be the key.”
Look back to the last time bees stopped play
Bees stopped play Sri Lanka vs South Africa – video
Australian Cricket journalist Mel Jones captured some video from the side of the field.
