SAJEEWA JAYAKODY
COLOMBO – In a rare occurrence, Angelo Mathews, a seasoned Sri Lankan player, faced an unprecedented dismissal in international cricket during the ICC World Cup match against Bangladesh in Delhi on Monday. Mathews became the first player to be timed out in any international cricket format, prompted by a helmet malfunction as he readied himself to face his first ball.
The incident took place following the dismissal of Sadeera Samarawickrama in the 25th over. The strap of Mathews’ helmet snapped while he was adjusting it just before taking strike against Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan. With nearly two minutes having passed since the previous dismissal, Mathews urgently requested a replacement helmet from the dugout.
Substitute Chamika Karunaratne ran the helmet to Mathews, but after a conversation between Mathews and Shakib, umpire Marais Erasmus declared Mathews timed out. Even though Mathews hadn’t yet worn the new helmet, the decision to dismiss him was confirmed, causing visible frustration from Mathews due to the broken strap.
Following discussions among the officials and players, the umpire’s decision stood. Bangladesh had already taken their positions in the field, and Mathews, visibly upset, was forced to leave the field. His annoyance was evident as he kicked his helmet and threw his bat in frustration.
Mathews’ dismissal left Sri Lanka in a precarious situation at 135 for 5. However, Charaith Asalanka’s exceptional batting display, scoring a century, helped the Sri Lankan team recover to a competitive total of 279.
