WC Final: Pro-Palestine fan breaches security to reach Virat Kohli
Ahmedabad, Nov 19: A pro-Palestine fan breached a tight security cordon to enter the field of play in a desperate attempt to hug Virat Kohli during the World Cup final between India against Australia here on Sunday.
The incident happened before the first drinks break.
The security personnel apprehended the man, who was identified as Wayne Johnson, an Australian of Chinese-Filipino origin.
He was arrested and taken to Chand Kheda Police station.
Political sloganeering is an offence at cricket games but with Johnson being a foreign national, it is not yet known what kind of action will be taken against him.
Johnson wore a face mask with design of a Palestine flag and a T-shirt with slogans on both sides.
On the front of the t-shirt, 'stop bombing Palestine' was written and on the back, Save Palestine' .
His sudden intrusion caught everyone unaware but the security was quick to apprehend him.
The ICC doesn't allow any political sloganeering during its event and any such act is also not allowed in India.
Israel and Palestine Hamas group have been engaged in a war since October 7, when the latter attacked a music festival in Kibbutz Re'im.
The pitch invader , how he allowed to enter despite security raising a serious question . Areest him.#INDvsAUSfinalpic.twitter.com/GlixBPFBJ3
— Mufaddal Vohra (@Mufadal_bohra) November 19, 2023
"My name is John...I am from Australia. I entered (the field) to meet Virat Kohli. I support Palestine..."pic.twitter.com/oI0NrPdrxk https://t.co/svwAX7c2ju
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) November 19, 2023
#ICCCricketWorldCup | Security breach during the India versus Australia ICC World Cup 2023 Final match, in Ahmedabad after a spectator entered the field to meet Virat Kohli pic.twitter.com/ZuvXlHMWp0
— ANI (@ANI) November 19, 2023
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Sri Lanka beats New Zealand by 140 runs in the 3rd ODI but New Zealand wins series 2-1
Auckland, Jan 11: Asitha Fernando and Maheesh Theekshana shared six wickets as Sri Lanka bowled out New Zealand for 150 runs in 29.4 overs to win the third one-day international by 140 runs here Saturday.
Fernando took 3-26 and Theekshana 3-35 to jointly knock the top off the New Zealand innings as it chased 291 for victory. Eshan Fernando also contributed 3-35 as Sri Lanka completed a comprehensive victory.
New Zealand won the three-match series 2-1 in its last matches at home before the ICC Champions Trophy begins in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates next month.
Earlier, Pathum Nissanka made 66 in an innings of two parts as Sri Lanka compiled 290-8 after choosing to bat first. New Zealand then slumped to 21-5 inside seven overs as Fernando helped Sri Lanka unpick the New Zealand top order.
“It's a huge confidence boost for me and for the team as well because we haven't played well in the first two games. It's a pleasure to play like this,” Fernando said.
“We identified a few areas to be improved (after the first two games). Now we are going straight back to work to continue improving day by day.”
Mark Chapman was the only New Zealand batter to stand against the chaos, making 81 at a run a ball. Chapman's 51-run partnership with Nathan Smith (17) for the eighth wicket was New Zealand's hope of making a game of it. The run rate never got away from New Zealand but it lost too many wickets early to seriously challenge Sri Lanka's total.
Nissanka reached 50 from 31 balls but almost immediately fell to the ground in pain from an apparent groin or hip strain.
He tried to bat on but was clearly impaired while running between wickets and was 50 not out when he was summoned from the field by Sri Lanka coach Sanith Jayasuriya to receive medical treatment.
Matt Henry took 4-55 for New Zealand.
