A cricket match in Sri Lanka has been brought to a halt after a snake slithered onto the field.
The Lanka Premier League match between Galle Titans and Dambulla Aura had to be stopped when players noticed an unwelcome visitor on the pitch during the latter’s innings.
One of the Titans bowlers gestured towards the umpire that the snake had slithered onto the pitch after coming over the boundary at Galle’s picturesque R. Premadasa Stadium, with players laughing as they found the funny side of the interruption.
While the species of the snake was unclear, many observers suggested it was a common rat snake, a non-venomous species that packs a powerful bite, but does not pose a big risk to humans and is regularly spotted where small rodents are found.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” one of the commentators said in a video of the match coverage published by Sri Lanka Cricket.
The snake was eventually encouraged off the pitch and over the boundary by an umpire, and a wildlife rescue team was summoned to the stadium to transfer it back to its natural habitat, allowing play to resume.
Telegraph, London
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