Watch: Sri Lanka’s Danushka Gunathilaka Given Out Obstructing The Field In First ODI Against West Indies

Published - 10 Mar 2021, 11:43 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:42 AM

Danushka Gunathilaka, Kieron Pollard, Dhanushka Gunathilaka, Obstruction of the field

Dhanushka Gunathilaka got out via Obstruction of field against West Indies in the first ODI. (Photo: Twitter/Screengrab)

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Sri Lanka batsman Danushka Gunathilaka became the latest entry in the bizarre dismissals column in the record books of the international cricket, as he was given out obstructing the field in the ongoing first ODI between Sri Lanka and West Indies.

The match is being played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua. Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne won the toss and chose to field first. Ashen Bandara and Pathum Nissanka were given their ODI debuts by the visitors, who started off well.

Dhanushka Gunathilaka, Dimuth Karunaratne take a run. (Photo: AFP)

Openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Danushka Gunathilaka added 105 runs for the first wicket in 19/5 overs as West Indies were looking for wickets at the start. Karunaratne was the first to get out as he was caught and bowled by his opposition number Kieron Pollard for 52 in 61 balls with 4 fours to his name.

Danushka Gunathilaka Becomes The 11th Batsman To Get Out Obstructing The Field In ODIs

The next wicket to fall was that of Karunaratne’s opening partner Gunathilaka. Danushka Gunathilaka was dismissed in one of the rarest modes of dismissal in cricket, obstructing the field. This happened on the first ball of the 22^nd over, bowled by Kieron Pollard.

Danushka Gunathilaka played a ball from Pollard near his feet and moves forward looking for a run. Pathum Nissanka is charging through for the single and is three-quarters of the way down the pitch, but gets turned down by Gunathilaka. While trying to backtrack into his crease, he back-heels the ball, as fielders converge to retrieve it.

Dhanushka Gunathilaka, Obstruction of field — Daanushka Gunathilaka got out via Obstruction of field against West Indies in the first ODI. (Photo: AFP)

Danushka Gunathilaka kicking it prevents Kieron Pollard from picking the ball up and running him out, as he felt there was a chance to do so. Pollard appealed and umpire Joel Wilson referred it to the third umpire and he ruled it out as an obstruction of the field offense and gives Gunathilaka out.

Thus Danushka Gunathilaka became the 11^th batsman to be given out in such fashion. The last such dismissal came when Xavier Marshall of the USA was given out in the same fashion against UAE in 2019 in Sharjah. India’s Mohinder Amarnath holds the distinction fo getting out in this fashion twice- against Australia in 1986 and against Sri Lanka in 1989.