28 December 2009 / , NEW DELHI AO
A dangerous pitch led to the abandonment of Sunday’s fifth and final limited-overs international between India and Sri Lanka after protests from the touring team’s captain Kumar Sangakkara.
Sent in to bat first after losing the toss, Sri Lanka had crumbled to 83-5 on the difficult Kotla pitch before the third delivery of the 24th over, from India’s rookie paceman Sudeep Tyagi, rose dangerously and flew past the face of batsman Thilina Kandamby. It proved the last straw for Sangakkara, who complained to match referee Alan Hurst and onfield umpires Marais Erasmus and Shavir Tarapore, and players left the field. Discussions continued between match officials and local organizers outside the boundary as spectators shouted slogans and abuse at the organizers. The teams were whisked away from the stadium before the abandonment was announced more than an hour after the suspension. Baton-wielding police cleared the stands of spectators, some of whom had vented their anger by hurling chairs. India won the series 3-1.
