ODI World Cup 2023: David Warner helps groundstaff bring covers in Lucknow

The 14th match of the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 took place at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, where Sri Lanka faced off against the five-time world champions, Australia.

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first. Their opening partnership between Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka provided them a flying start as the duo added an impressive 125 runs together. However, Nissanka was dismissed by Pat Cummins for 61 while Kusal Perera was also dismissed by Cummins for 78 soon afterwards.

Stand-in captain Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama were both dismissed shortly too, leaving Sri Lanka in a difficult position at 166/4. At this point, rain interrupted the match, and the players were forced to leave the field as the covers were brought on by the umpires.

During the break, Australian opening batter David Warner was seen assisting the groundstaff in bringing on the covers, which caught the attention of fans . Despite the skies appearing clear, a sudden drizzle caused the match to be stopped.

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This match marked Australia's third game in the tournament, with Sri Lanka also having played two matches prior. Both teams had suffered losses in their opening games. Australia lost to host nation India in their first match and were significantly defeated by South Africa in their second game. S

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, were defeated by South Africa and Pakistan in their first two matches, with Pakistan successfully chasing down a record total of around 350 runs. Both Sri Lanka and Australia would be eager to secure a victory in this match to earn their first points on the tournament's point table.

Speaking of Warner's form, he displayed exceptional performances during the series against South Africa, scoring a century and a half-century. Additionally, in a three-match ODI series against India before the World Cup, he showcased his brilliance by scoring consecutive half-centuries. However, in the first two matches of the World Cup, Warner's bat has been uncharacteristically quiet, failing to meet expectations. The Australian team are eagerly awaiting his return to form as he is a crucial player for their success in this tournament.