Strong winds caused several billboards to fall from the roof of the Ekana Stadium onto the seats below during the World Cup match between Australia and Sri Lanka in Lucknow on Monday. After rain halted play for a while, a dust storm developed and heavy winds caused several iron corners containing branding material from the roof to fall onto people sitting on the lower levels.
The situation could have gotten worse, but luckily the stands were relatively empty. However, it did cause panic among those watching the match as the public announcement asked spectators to seek safety on the upper decks.
Asked about the incident after the match, Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa, one of the game’s star players with figures of 4/47, said: “I’ve never been part of that, never seen anything like that. But there was no one who did hopefully pain. A metal pole came down. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
By the time the second innings started, security had moved all spectators to the upper levels.
High winds are causing hoardings to fall all over Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium.
Spectators run for safety.#CWC23 #AUSvSL #WorldCup2023 #Happy @BCCI @ICC please remove these banners before the next match. pic.twitter.com/xxoqK775jK— Ali Taabish Nomani (@atnomani) October 16, 2023
The stadium hosted its first World Cup match last week, Australia versus South Africa.
#AUSvSL stadium that falls apart only because of the wind pic.twitter.com/fr3YrDCdvc
— Darksideraza (@Darksiderazaa) October 16, 2023
The big match between India and England is scheduled for October 29 at the Ekana Stadium.
CWC 2023: Hoardings fall in crowd due to high winds at Lucknow stadium during AUS vs SL clash
The match was abandoned due to rain and strong winds during the first innings. pic.twitter.com/icsiKGMtXI
— Mufaddal Vohra (@Mufadddal_Vohra) October 16, 2023
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa on Monday revealed that he has been suffering from back spasms for the past few days but that could not come in his way of putting in a match-winning performance against Sri Lanka at the World Cup here.
The 31-year-old Zampa was named Player of the Match after posting impressive figures of 8-1-47-4 as Australia recorded their first win of the ongoing tournament.
“To be honest, I wasn’t feeling great because I was having a bit of a back spasm. I was playing through it for the last few days. Today I felt better, today I bowled better,” Zampa said after the match.
“Personally I wasn’t at my best and in the last match I especially felt I could have done better. My job in this team is to take wickets in the middle order. I didn’t quite do that last match and the pressure put on the death bowlers.
“Today I felt better but nice to be on the winning side today. It took a while to get into the game, I just have to keep that wicket-taking attitude going, it doesn’t matter if I leak some runs. ” Australia had lost to India and South Africa in their first two matches and captain Pat Cummins was a happy man when his side ticked all the boxes against Sri Lanka.
“Yes, happy today. It was probably that nothing was said and it was just to do with two defeats… The energy on the field was nice to start with and everything else was flowing.
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