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Cricket has seen a fair share of pitch invaders over the years, but the sight of a stray monkey running onto the field of play during the afternoon session of the ongoing Test match between Sri Lanka and India is one not many would have been prepared for.
India’s trysts in the lands of their southern neighbours have always been accompanied by simian visitors – ever since the days of the Ramayana, and the tradition continued to be played out at Galle Stadium.
With only minutes remaining before tea, the monkey came out into the spotlight, took a brief stroll around the stadium, before trotting back off – interrupting Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne’s 6th wicket stand.
Invading the pitch can warrant a £1,000 fine and a lifetime ban from the ground, but there are some obvious advantages of being a primate.
Play eventually removed, with Sri Lanka bowled all out for 367 – leaving India a target of 176 to chase down, with more than two days left to play.
A video of the incident (a few birds can also be seen being hovering, having been attracted by the spectacle):
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