The ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 match between Sri Lanka and South Africa match was interrupted on Friday — and no, not by rain.
A large swarm of bees disrupted play at Riverside Ground in Chester le Street, Durham, during the 48th over, forcing players and umpires to lie low on the field to avoid the onslaught of the buzzing insects.
Bees two nations have a history!#SLvSA | #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/rEY9T7yhUD
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 28, 2019
At the time of the bee attack, Sri Lanka’s Suranga Lakmal and Isuru Udana were at the crease. The team was later bowled out for 203.
The two batsmen and the South African fielders lay flat on their stomachs as they ducked for cover. At the same time, bowler Chris Morris thought it was a good time to do some push-ups.
This isn’t the first time that a cricket match has been interrupted by bees. In 2017, a match between the two teams at the Wanderers in Johannesburg was halted by over an hour by bees.
Back in 2008, when India was playing against Australia at the Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi. Australia was batting on the third day of the Test match when the bees invaded the field, prompting the players and the umpires to run for cover.
Twitter reacted in style to the incident:
Naughty Bees 🐝🐝 🐝
— ຸ (@GungHoSports) June 28, 2019
Beehive Yourself....
#SLvSA #CWC19 #bees
— 🥑 (@Awkward_Avocad0) June 28, 2019
Me: I'll be productful from Monday
*Me on Monday* pic.twitter.com/ajuuzbMcnx