World Cup 2019: Bees intervene during South Africa-Sri Lanka match in Chester-le-Street

Whenever South Africa play Sri Lanka in a cricket match, the bees queue up to visit the game. It has happened in the past. On Friday, the two teams’ clash at Chester-le-Street witnessed a swarm of bees intervening again and forcing the game to pause. However, their act was not enough to distract the Proteas who came up with a clinical performance post their ouster from the tournament and made the Lankans’ progress to the semi-final more difficult.

South African skipper Faf du Plessis won the toss and sent the Lankans to bat first. The Islanders lost their captain Dimuth Karunaratne off the very first delivery from Kagiso Rabada. The former champions came up with a mediocre show with the bat with Kusal Perera and Avishka Fernando top scoring with 30.

The hero of the England game, Angelo Mathews, failed to deliver and fell for just 11. A few 20s from the likes of Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva and Thisara Perera were not enough to take Sri Lanka to a strong total. They were all out for just 203 in 49.3 overs with Chris Morris and Dwaine Pretorius taking three wickets each.

It was during the 48th over of the Sri Lankan innings that the bees’ intervention took place. The players and umpires were seen lying on the ground for the intruders to fly over.

SA crush Sri Lanka by 9 wickets

The South Africans had no problem whatsoever chasing down the total with Du Plessis and Hashim Amla putting up a 175-run partnership for the second wicket. Du Plessis remained not out on 96 and Amla on 80 as South Africa won by 9 wickets with almost 13 overs to spare. It was the Proteas’ second win in eight games although it had come far too late.

South Africa pipped the Windies to reach the eighth position with five points from eight games after their disastrous three consecutive losses to start the tournament. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have six points from seven games now and will have to beat the Caribbeans and India in their final two games to keep their semi-final hopes alive.

Meanwhile, the Twitterati came up with hilarious memes in reaction to the bees’ intervention at Chester-le-Street on Friday.

Here are some of them:

Bees two nations have a history!#SLvSA | #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/rEY9T7yhUD

— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 28, 2019

When last did you see this?

????????Bees stop play, momentarily

The bees are back again in a South Africa v Sri Lanka cricket match, this time at Chester-le-Street#CWC19 #ItsMoreThanCricket #SLvSA pic.twitter.com/Hr6K9b6f0x

— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) June 28, 2019

Sarfaraz from hotel room during bee attack #SLvSA pic.twitter.com/D3O8rT2cW7

— Anant Bishnoi (@anant_bishnoi) June 28, 2019

#SLvSA#cwc19
Bees and africa&lanka match coincidence or an interesting love story. pic.twitter.com/xoMjqqkjNp

— Ali ❤~علی (@AliAsmar45) June 28, 2019

Not sure what all the buzz is about? It’s just a swarm of bees#SLvSA pic.twitter.com/6thp50Hdwj

— SØÓtyBåZ↘???????? (@ShahbazAwan1101) June 28, 2019